Stellantis slows down sales of ICE cars

Stellantis is limiting the availability of internal combustion engine (ICE) cars to meet electric vehicle (EV) sales targets.

In Great Britain, group sales fell by 19% (year on year) in September. Although the number of electric vehicles sold doubled during the month, this was accompanied by a 34% decline in ICE sales.

Like all automakers, Stellantis is required to sell a certain percentage of electric cars each year as part of the UK ZEV mandate. Fines of £15,000 apply to any car sold outside the target.

There is a core target of 22% by 2024, gradually increasing to 80% by 2030. Stellantis UK is currently tracking 17% across all its brands.

A leasing company representative confirmed to Fleet News that Stellantis was actively holding back ICE deliveries to the UK and pushing EV models with heavier discounts.

They said, “There are others, but perhaps none as exaggerated as Stellantis.”

Further targets apply to car manufacturers across Europe, including fines for the sale of cars with CO2 emissions above 95 g/km.

Speaking at the Paris Motor Show, the car giant’s new European COO, Jean-Philippe Imparato, said production of ICE models will be curtailed if demand for electric vehicles remains at current levels.

Data from Jato Dynamics shows Stellantis volumes fell 25% year-on-year across Europe in September.

The company recorded a significant decline in sales in 22 of the 28 European markets, especially in Italy (-34%) and France (-17%), the two most important markets. Stellantis brands that saw a sharp drop in sales last month include Fiat (-43%), Citroen (-41%) and Opel/Vauxhall (-24%). The EV market share fell to 10.6% in September, compared to 14.8% in the corresponding month last year.