Cars

Stellantis Appoints New North American Design Head Amidst Strategic Reorganization

Stellantis is undertaking a significant strategic transformation, marked by key appointments in its global design leadership and a streamlined executive structure. This move aims to enhance regional autonomy, foster creative excellence, and ultimately revitalize the company's market position and financial performance. The integration of seasoned design professionals with deep market understanding is central to this renewed vision, promising a fresh aesthetic and functional direction for its diverse brand portfolio while enabling more agile decision-making across its operations. This pivotal moment underscores Stellantis's commitment to addressing past challenges and charting a course toward future growth and innovation in the competitive automotive landscape.

The reorganization of Stellantis's design leadership, with the appointment of Scott Krugger for North America and Gilles Vidal for European brands, signifies a deliberate effort to infuse fresh perspectives and market-specific expertise into the company's product development. This dual leadership approach, operating under the overall guidance of Chief Design Officer Ralph Gilles, aims to decentralize decision-making and foster greater responsiveness to regional market demands. Concurrently, Stellantis has significantly reduced its executive team from 30 to nine members, reflecting a strategic pivot towards a more agile and efficient operational model. This leaner hierarchy is intended to accelerate decision-making processes and empower regional teams to address challenges and opportunities with greater autonomy, a direct response to recent sales declines and market share erosion experienced under the previous centralized management.

Elevating Design Leadership Across Continents

Stellantis has strategically appointed Scott Krugger as the new Head of North America Design, a critical step in the automaker's broader reorganization aimed at enhancing its global design capabilities. This move follows the recent naming of Gilles Vidal to lead design efforts for Stellantis's European brands. These appointments are central to Chief Design Officer Ralph Gilles's vision for a revamped design organization that marries strong regional independence with comprehensive corporate expertise. Krugger will be instrumental in shaping the aesthetic and creative direction for iconic North American brands such as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram, ensuring that future models resonate deeply with local market preferences and trends.

Scott Krugger brings extensive experience to his new role, having spent over a decade at Daimler-Chrysler, where he spearheaded design initiatives for Jeep and Alfa Romeo for five years. His impressive portfolio includes contributions to the design of popular models like the Chrysler PT Cruiser, Chrysler Pacifica, and Ram 1500, as well as the Alfa Romeo Tonale. Notably, Krugger also played a pivotal role in the exterior design of the fifth-generation Dodge Viper and has led SRT and Dodge design since 2022. His recent involvement in the groundbreaking Dodge Charger Daytona SRT, the brand's first battery-electric vehicle, underscores his forward-thinking approach to automotive design. Ralph Gilles emphasized the significance of both Krugger's and Vidal's appointments, highlighting their immense talent and proven leadership, which are expected to usher in a new era of creative excellence for Stellantis's diverse portfolio of 14 brands.

Strategic Restructuring for Market Revival

The strategic shift within Stellantis extends beyond design leadership to a comprehensive reorganization of its executive structure, with a focus on creating a leaner, more responsive management team. The company has dramatically reduced its executive ranks, cutting down from 30 to just nine top leaders. This bold move is intended to decentralize decision-making, granting greater autonomy to regional operations. The aim is to enable faster and more efficient responses to market dynamics, a critical change given Stellantis's recent performance. The company faced a challenging 2024, marked by declining sales, dissatisfaction among retailers, and a reduced market share, culminating in a significant net loss in the first half of 2025.

This renewed organizational chart, which empowers regional leaders with more decision-making authority, is a direct countermeasure to the centralized control that characterized the previous leadership era. The new CEO, Antonio Filosa, has expressed strong confidence in this decentralized approach, believing it will leverage the strengths of Stellantis's people and product innovations. Early indicators of this strategy's success include the market introduction of the Ram 1500 Express, a direct result of dealer feedback, and the re-emphasis on beloved elements like the Hemi V8 and the SRT brand, alongside the return of effective executives. These strategic adjustments, including the vital design appointments, position Stellantis for a robust rebound, signaling a proactive effort to regain market traction and profitability.

Walmart's Latest Deal: A Highly-Rated Electric Scooter at an Unbeatable Price

In an era where personal mobility solutions are increasingly sought after, electric scooters and bicycles have surged in popularity, offering a blend of convenience and versatility that traditional transport methods often lack. For those contemplating an eco-friendly and efficient way to travel, Walmart presents an opportune moment with a remarkable price reduction on a well-received electric scooter.

The Evercross EV85F Electric Scooter, a model celebrated for its dependability and enjoyable riding experience, is now available at Walmart for an astonishing $248, representing a 59% reduction from its original price of $660. This powerful device features a 350W motor, enabling speeds up to 18.6 miles per hour and a range of up to 19 miles on a single charge, making it perfect for daily commutes, quick errands, or simply exploring the urban landscape. Its sturdy build can support riders up to 265 pounds, and its lightweight, foldable design ensures easy storage and portability, fitting effortlessly into a car trunk or garage. Customer feedback consistently highlights its performance and value, with many praising its 'fun to ride' nature and 'well-made' construction, affirming its status as a worthwhile investment for personal transportation.

Beyond its impressive performance metrics, the Evercross EV85F prioritizes rider safety through a suite of integrated features. Equipped with two 8.5-inch puncture-resistant tires and a dual shock absorption system, it promises a smooth and stable ride. A bell and a responsive dual braking system, capable of stopping the scooter in just 1.5 seconds, enhance safety during rides. Additionally, a bright LED headlight and taillight ensure visibility in low-light conditions or inclement weather. Riders can monitor their speed, battery life, and riding data via a compact digital display, with the option for more detailed analysis through the Evercross Pro mobile application, further solidifying its appeal as a reliable and enjoyable electric mobility solution.

Embracing personal electric vehicles like this scooter signifies a positive shift towards more sustainable and active lifestyles. The affordability and practical benefits of such devices empower individuals to navigate their communities with greater freedom and efficiency, contributing to a reduction in traffic congestion and carbon footprint. This accessible technology fosters independence and encourages outdoor activity, embodying a forward-thinking approach to urban living that is both liberating and environmentally conscious.

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Chevrolet's Electric Truck Achieves Unprecedented 1,000-Mile Range Without Recharging

In a groundbreaking display of electric vehicle capability, Chevrolet's 2026 Silverado EV Max Range Work Truck has achieved an extraordinary milestone, completing a journey of over 1,000 miles on a single battery charge. This remarkable achievement, conducted under real-world driving conditions and without any alterations to the vehicle's inherent hardware or software, sets a new benchmark for EV range, significantly surpassing its official EPA rating and previous records held by other electric vehicles. The success underscores the immense potential for efficiency optimization within current EV technology, demonstrating that thoughtful driving practices and subtle environmental considerations can profoundly extend an electric vehicle's operational distance.

This pioneering test was not a mere stroke of luck but the culmination of dedicated engineering insights and strategic planning. While the Silverado EV's inherent design provides a robust foundation for long-range travel, the extended range was primarily unlocked through a series of meticulous, real-world driving optimizations. These included maintaining consistent, moderate speeds, minimizing sudden braking, reducing passenger load, adjusting tire pressures for optimal rolling resistance, and even simple aerodynamic enhancements like a tonneau cover. The experiment, born from an exploratory discussion among GM engineers, highlights a forward-thinking approach to EV performance, emphasizing that the synergy between advanced vehicle design and intelligent usage can lead to previously unimaginable levels of efficiency and utility for electric trucks.

Setting New Standards in Electric Vehicle Range

The 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV Max Range Work Truck has made headlines by covering an astounding 1,059.2 miles on a single charge, more than doubling its EPA estimated range of 493 miles. This accomplishment significantly eclipses the previous EV range record of 749 miles, which was recently established by the Lucid Air sedan. What makes this feat particularly impressive is that it was achieved by a full-size electric pickup truck, a vehicle type traditionally challenged by weight and aerodynamics, without requiring any modifications to its core hardware or software. The success of this endeavor redefines expectations for electric vehicle performance, particularly for larger, more utilitarian models, showcasing Chevrolet's leadership in the burgeoning electric truck segment.

The extended range was not a result of technological upgrades but rather a meticulous application of efficiency-maximizing strategies during the test run. Engineers from General Motors undertook a real-world test on public roads in southeastern Michigan, carefully controlling various factors to optimize energy consumption. This included maintaining an average speed between 20 to 25 mph, minimizing hard braking, and removing unnecessary weight by driving without passengers for most of the test. Furthermore, aerodynamic improvements were implemented, such as repositioning windshield wiper arms to their lowest setting and adding an accessory tonneau cover for smoother airflow. The tire pressure was also maximized to reduce rolling resistance, and the climate control system was entirely disengaged to conserve energy. This comprehensive approach to maximizing efficiency, combined with favorable warm weather conditions, collectively contributed to the truck's unprecedented range, proving that practical optimizations can dramatically enhance an EV's endurance.

The Art of Maximizing EV Efficiency

Achieving such an extraordinary range for the Chevrolet Silverado EV involved a thoughtful combination of driving techniques and minor, reversible adjustments, all aimed at minimizing energy expenditure. These strategies, while not altering the vehicle's fundamental design, collectively reduced drag, rolling resistance, and auxiliary power consumption. The test demonstrated that the true potential of electric vehicles can be unlocked not just through battery capacity and motor efficiency, but also through intelligent driving habits and environmental considerations, offering a blueprint for owners seeking to extend their EV's range in daily use.

The successful 1,000-mile journey was a testament to applied engineering principles and a deep understanding of energy dynamics in electric vehicles. Engineers meticulously optimized every controllable variable, including driving at consistent, low speeds (20-25 mph) to reduce aerodynamic drag, avoiding harsh acceleration and braking, and stripping the vehicle of any unnecessary weight, such as passengers or spare tires. Aerodynamic enhancements, like the installation of an accessory tonneau cover, streamlined airflow over the truck bed. Furthermore, practical adjustments like setting the highest safe tire pressure reduced rolling resistance, and completely foregoing the climate control system conserved valuable battery power. Conducted during warmer summer conditions, which are more conducive to battery performance, these measures collectively showcased how a disciplined approach to driving and vehicle preparation can yield impressive gains in electric vehicle range, setting a new standard for what is achievable with current EV technology.

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