In 2018, Stellantis partnered with the Belgian company Punch Powertrain to develop and produce automatic transmissions for hybrid vehicles. This collaboration took shape at the production sites in Metz (France) and Turin (Italy), where the electrified dual-clutch transmissions (e-DCT) are assembled. Stellantis has just announced that it has taken full control of this joint venture, marking a key step in its electrification strategy.
Strategic decision for Stellantis
The automotive group has confirmed the acquisition of all the shares in its joint venture with Punch Powertrain. This decision allows the group to directly control the design and production of eDCT transmissions, a key technology for its hybrid models.
These transmissions integrate a 21 kW electric motor with a dual-clutch gearbox, enabling significant improvements in fuel consumption and emissions. Thanks to this technology, the combustion engine can be switched off for up to 50% of the time in urban driving, reducing the carbon footprint of hybrid vehicles equipped with this transmission.
The acquisition mainly concerns the Metz and Mirafiori plants in Turin, where these transmissions are produced for the Stellantis Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle (MHEV) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) models. This acquisition is part of the Group's efforts to streamline its industrial processes and optimise production costs.
Hybrid: a booming market in Europe
This acquisition comes at a crucial time for Stellantis. By the end of 2024, sales of hybrid vehicles will have surpassed those of thermal models, confirming their central role in the energy transition of the automotive sector.
In the face of increasingly stringent environmental regulations and progressive electrification, the hybrid represents an ideal intermediate solution. It allows manufacturers to offer cleaner vehicles while maintaining a balance between production costs and consumer accessibility. By strengthening its expertise in this field, Stellantis is securing a strategic advantage in a rapidly changing market.
By taking full control of the joint venture with Punch Powertrain, Stellantis will have additional leverage to develop ever more efficient hybrid transmissions adapted to the needs of the market. This decision is part of a logic of technological mastery and industrial independence that guarantees the Group greater flexibility in the development of its hybrid range.
With this acquisition, Stellantis confirms its ambition to remain a major player in the electrification of the automobile. With complete expertise in the production chain of its automatic transmissions, the Group will be able to refine its future developments and offer competitive hybrid models that meet consumer expectations and environmental requirements. The future of the automobile involves a gradual transition to electricity, and Stellantis seems determined to play a key role in this change.
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