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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.”
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• 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.”

Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast  as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.

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