The Stellantis group, born from the merger of PSA and Fiat-Chrysler, will launch the mass production of hydrogen utility vehicles in its factory located in Hordain (North), announced Thursday the director general of the car manufacturer, Carlos Tavares.
With an investment of 10 million euros, supported by the French State, the site will have in 2024 a capacity of 5,000 utilities per year equipped with a fuel cell.
Sold under the Peugeot, Citroën and Opel brands, they will be intended for the German and French markets, the group said in a press release.
The northern plant with 2,400 employees will notably assemble the tank, the additional batteries and the fuel cell, after the vehicles have passed through the site's single assembly line.
The production of utilities (under the Toyota, Opel, Peugeot, Fiat, Citroën brands) was already 43% electric in August and September.
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Stellantis, leader of the juicy utility vehicle market in Europe, has sold a few dozen hydrogen models since their launch at the end of 2021. They are currently assembled in small series at the Rüsselsheim plant (Germany).
Sold for more than 100,000 euros each (excluding bonuses), these utilities promise a range of 400 kilometers for recharging in a few minutes.
"
Today's announcement demonstrates Stellantis' commitment to investing in the most advanced technologies in France and supporting low-carbon mobility
," said Carlos Tavares, quoted in the press release.
Protected from semiconductor shortages, the Hordain plant, one of three Stellantis utility plants in Europe, produced 144,650 vehicles in 2021.