Episode Description
Episode #1350: Today we’re talking about Stellantis betting big on affordable vehicles and platform consolidation, NADA helping dealers put families on the road through a new national partnership, and Bojangles turning EV charging into a side of biscuits with its new “charge-and-dine” concept.
- Stellantis is laying out its “FaSTLAne 2030” plan, and for dealers, the headline is simple: more affordable metal is coming. The automaker says North America will get nine vehicles under $40,000 by 2030, with two slipping under the $30,000 mark.
- Stellantis’ five-year, $70B plan sends 70% of global investment toward Jeep, Ram, Peugeot, Fiat and Pro One.
- In North America, Stellantis is targeting 25% revenue growth, 35% volume growth and 11 all-new vehicles.
- The company expects U.S. factory utilization to reach 80% by 2030, helped by increased domestic production.
- Globally, Stellantis plans to simplify 50% of its vehicles around three core platforms, including the new “STLA One” architecture designed to boost efficiency, lower costs and increase shared components across brands.
- CEO Antonio Filosa said, “FaSTLAne 2030 is the result of months of disciplined work across the company.”
- NADA and Vehicles for Change are teaming up nationally to help dealers put more families on the road to stability. The new partnership gives dealers a turnkey way to donate vehicles and support low-income families needing reliable transportation for work, childcare and daily life.
- NADA and Vehicles for Change will officially launch a national dealer partnership on May 27 in Pennsylvania.
- #1 Cochran Buick GMC will donate two vehicles to local families during the kickoff event as an example for dealers nationwide.
- The program includes a dealer “playbook” with step-by-step guidance for stores wanting to participate in their own communities.
- Vehicles for Change says it has already helped more than 8,200 families gain affordable transportation through its Keys to Independence program.
- NADA Chairman Rob Cochran said, “This event demonstrates the powerful impact dealers can have.”
- Bojangles is entering the EV charging game, turning fried chicken stops into charging stops. The chain just launched its first EV charging station in Savannah, Georgia, pitching a new “charge-and-dine” experience as it looks to expand chargers nationwide.
- The company partnered with XLR8 America and Energy and Environmental Design Services to bring level 2 and level 3 chargers to future locations.
- Bojangles says the goal is to transform charging downtime into a hospitality experience built around food, comfort and convenience.
- The company says its charging network is designed for more than 97% uptime as EV adoption continues to grow.
- CIO Richard Del Valle said, “This is about more than charging vehicles. It’s about redefining the stop along the way.”
- “At XLR8 America, our philosophy is simple: charge where you park, not park where you charge,” XLR8 America CEO Frank O’Connor said. “Bojangles gets that. When a driver pulls in for a Bo-Berry Biscuit and the battery tops off while they dine, that’s not a coincidence — that’s the charge-and-dine experience made real.”
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