Stellantis Invests $29.5 Million in Innovative Wind Tunnel Technology to Enhance EV Aerodynamics

Rhea-AI Summary

Stellantis has invested $29.5 million in Moving Ground Plane (MGP) technology at its Auburn Hills facility to enhance EV aerodynamics. The upgraded wind tunnel will measure and reduce airflow resistance from wheels and tires, which account for up to 10% of total aerodynamic drag. This technology aims to improve EV driving range and potentially reduce battery sizes, leading to cost and weight savings. The facility can test larger vehicles and simulate speeds up to 140 mph. The investment is part of an $85 million commitment from the 2019 UAW contract and supports Stellantis' goal to achieve 50% US EV sales and 100% European EV sales by 2030.

Positive

• Investment in MGP technology enables potential battery size reduction and improved vehicle efficiency
• Facility upgrade allows testing of larger vehicles, particularly STLA Large and Frame platforms
• Automation reduces testing time from hours to minutes, increasing speed to market
• Technology supports goal of 75+ BEVs and 5 million annual EV sales by 2030

Negative

• None.

Insights

Automotive Technology Analyst

This $29.5 million wind tunnel investment represents a significant technological leap for Stellantis' EV development capabilities. The Moving Ground Plane technology addresses a important challenge in EV design - the 10% drag contribution from wheels and tires that was previously difficult to measure accurately. The facility's ability to test larger vehicles, particularly those on STLA Large and Frame platforms, positions Stellantis to optimize their upcoming EV lineup effectively.

The automation improvements, reducing test configuration times from hours to minutes, will accelerate product development cycles significantly. Combined with the potential for battery size optimization through improved aerodynamics, this could translate to meaningful cost reductions and competitive advantages in the EV market. The investment aligns perfectly with Stellantis' ambitious goal of 100% European EV sales by 2030 and demonstrates strong commitment to their electrification strategy.

EV Market Analyst

The strategic timing of this infrastructure investment is important as Stellantis prepares to launch over 75 BEVs globally. The ability to optimize aerodynamics could create a significant competitive advantage in the EV market, where range anxiety remains a key consumer concern. By potentially reducing battery sizes while maintaining range targets, Stellantis could achieve better pricing positions against competitors while improving vehicle dynamics through weight reduction.

The facility's 140 mph testing capability ensures relevance for high-performance EVs, while the focus on larger vehicles addresses a critical market segment where aerodynamic efficiency has traditionally been challenging. This investment strengthens Stellantis' position in the premium and truck segments, where margins are typically higher and consumer expectations for range and performance are demanding.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Oct. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --

• $29.5 million investment expands capability of world-class Stellantis wind tunnel with Moving Ground Plane (MGP) technology to reduce drag and boost EV range
• Introduces capability to measure and reduce airflow resistance from wheels and tires, which account for up to 10% of total real-world aerodynamic drag
• Helps improve aerodynamics of Stellantis brand vehicles sold worldwide, a critical factor in increasing EV driving range
• Improved EV aerodynamics may lead to potential battery-size reductions, benefitting vehicle efficiency and design
• Upgrade complements AI's role in Stellantis product development; affords greater precision and additional automation, which can increase speed to market
• MGP technology will be a key enabler in the development of Stellantis BEVs, a cornerstone of the company's Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan

Stellantis unveiled its innovative Moving Ground Plane (MGP) technology – a $29.5 million investment – at the company's research and technical center in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

The upgraded wind tunnel will be able to measure and reduce airflow resistance from wheels and tires, which can account for up to 10% of total real-world aerodynamic drag.

Optimizing aerodynamic efficiency is crucial in the effort to extend the driving range of electrified vehicles on a single charge. This enhancement directly contributes to improved efficiency, benefiting customers with longer EV ranges and potentially reducing battery sizes, which in turn could lead to cost and weight savings.

"Range is a core consideration for customers who are transitioning to cleaner mobility through battery power," said Mark Champine, senior vice president and head of North America engineering technical centers. "That's what makes this investment so critical. By reducing drag, we improve electric-vehicle range and, ultimately, the overall customer driving experience."

The upgrade to the company's innovative aero-acoustic wind tunnel simulates real-world travel while allowing test vehicles to remain static. Belts suspended by cushions of air enable wheel movement at all four corners, while a fifth belt runs longitudinally beneath the vehicle, mimicking on-road travel conditions.

This realistic simulation allows for more precise testing and aerodynamic improvements.

"For EVs, a range increase enabled by improved aerodynamics can lead to potential battery-size reductions," said Champine. "This has positive implications from more efficient packaging-to-weight savings that, in the end, will enhance the customer experience."

The investment in MGP technology will benefit multiple Stellantis brands, regardless of where they are sold or how they are powered, and will gain from aerodynamic optimization.

The upgraded wind tunnel also provides a valuable complement to virtual development tools.

"This apparatus is a great addition to virtual tools, which may not account for factors such as tire deformation that can compromise aerodynamics," said Champine. "With this technology we can replicate such conditions and capture real-time data to explore solutions."

The new facility also adds vital automation capability. Changes to wheelbase and track testing, which can take as much as two hours in conventional wind tunnels, can now be done in minutes.

The combined outcome of real-time data collection and increased automation: increased speed to market.

While Stellantis uses MGP technology at other facilities around the world, those sites are focused on smaller vehicle platforms. The upgraded Auburn Hills facility will be capable of accommodating larger vehicles, particularly those based on the STLA Large and STLA Frame platforms.

MGP technology is a key enabler in the development of BEVs, as outlined in the company's Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan, and will account for 50% of Stellantis U.S. sales and 100% of European sales by 2030. Globally, Stellantis aims to offer more than 75 BEVs by that time, accounting for 5 million vehicles sold annually.

The investment underscores Stellantis' commitment to becoming carbon net-zero by 2038 as part of its leadership in climate-change mitigation.

The upgraded facility is part of an estimated $85 million commitment included in the 2019 UAW contract. It includes a new annex for staging test vehicles and a new outbuilding to support the MGP system, which uses high-pressure compressed air to drive the wheel and center belts at speeds up to 140 mph. The entire process is carefully controlled by electromechanical actuators.

The measuring platform and turntable that comprise the heart of the MGP equipment weighs 137 tons, rests on a concrete foundation and are supported by a specially designed steel frame.

The wind tunnel, capable of generating wind speeds of more than 160 mph, has been in continuous operation since 2002.

Stellantis has a long history of aerodynamic leadership:

• In 1929, a company led by aviation pioneer Orville Wright built one of the auto industry's first wind tunnels, for Chrysler Corporation
• The Chrysler AirFlow, introduced in 1934, was the world's first vehicle designed with the aid of a wind tunnel
• The Mercury Redstone Rocket used by Alan Shepherd and Gus Grissom for the first two NASA space flights was designed by Chrysler
• The Citroen CX, launched in 1974 at the Paris Auto Salon, featured a coefficient of drag of 0.29. CX is the French acronym for coefficient of drag
• Roof flap mandated by NASCAR to apply downforce in emergency situations was developed in the Auburn Hills wind tunnel
• The 2025 Ram 1500 full-size pickup and Chrysler Pacifica minivan lead their segments with best-in-class coefficient of drag – 0.357 and 0.300, respectively

Stellantis North America
Stellantis (NYSE: STLA) is one of the world's leading automakers, aiming to provide clean, safe and affordable freedom of mobility for all. In North America, it's best known for producing and selling vehicles in a portfolio of iconic, innovative and award-winning brands, including Jeep®, Chrysler, Dodge//SRT, Ram, Alfa Romeo and Fiat. Stellantis is executing its Dare Forward 2030, a bold strategic plan that paves the way to achieve the ambitious target of becoming a carbon net zero mobility tech company by 2038, while creating added value for all stakeholders. 

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SOURCE Stellantis

FAQ

What is the cost of Stellantis (STLA) new wind tunnel investment?

Stellantis invested $29.5 million in Moving Ground Plane (MGP) technology at its Auburn Hills wind tunnel facility.

How much can the new Stellantis (STLA) wind tunnel technology reduce aerodynamic drag?

The technology can measure and reduce airflow resistance from wheels and tires, which account for up to 10% of total real-world aerodynamic drag.

What are Stellantis (STLA) EV sales targets for 2030?

Stellantis aims for EVs to account for 50% of US sales and 100% of European sales by 2030, with a goal to offer more than 75 BEVs globally.

What is the maximum testing speed of Stellantis (STLA) new wind tunnel?

The wind tunnel's MGP system can drive wheel and center belts at speeds up to 140 mph, with the tunnel capable of generating wind speeds over 160 mph.