A new, modular frame from Stellantis keeps the road open for ICE engines

Stellantis is making room for traditional gas engines in its vision for the future. The company’s newly revealed STLA Frame platform is designed to power its large body-on-frame vehicles, with flexibility for a range of powertrains—from fully electric to plug-in hybrid, range-extended electric, and internal combustion engines.

The move signals Stellantis’s unwillingness to let go of combustion engines just yet, even as the automotive world trends toward electrification. For buyers not ready to go all-in on electric, Stellantis seems determined to keep options open.

Related: Mazda isn't ready to give up on combustion engines just yet

Any size the customer wants, as long as it's big

The STLA Frame isn’t small. At lengths ranging from 216 to 234 inches and wheelbases between 123.7 and 145.3 inches, it’s roughly the size of a Jeep Wagoneer on the low end and a Ram 1500 Quad Cab on the high end. It boasts 10.3 inches of ground clearance and can wade through 24 inches of water regardless of powertrain.

Towing and payload are equally impressive, with the platform supporting up to 14,000 pounds of towing capacity and 2,700 pounds of payload. For electric vehicles, the frame rails protect a battery pack that can hold up to 200 kWh, enabling a range of up to 500 miles. Range-extending gas engines could push that figure to 690 miles, and the platform supports fast-charging capabilities up to 350 kW.

Stellantis sticks with gas engines (for now)

While much of the automotive industry is racing toward electric vehicles, Stellantis is betting there’s still a market for gas-powered trucks and SUVs. The STLA Frame leaves space for a front-mounted engine and transmission to drive the rear or all four wheels. Plug-in hybrid configurations are also on the table.

This platform will underpin future Jeep and Ram models in the U.S., as well as commercial vehicles worldwide. Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares described the STLA Frame as a “no-compromise” solution for buyers hesitant to make the leap to fully electric vehicles.

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Other automakers have followed a similar path. Just in the last month, Lotus reversed course on its plans to go all-electric by 2028 and Mazda revealed an all-new, hyper-efficient gas engine that it will be placing in future models. As demand for EVs softens, manufacturers are trying to strike a tight balance between government emission standards and consumer preferences.

Final thoughts

By offering a platform that supports combustion engines alongside electric and hybrid powertrains, Stellantis is hedging its bets. As governments push for stricter emissions regulations and buyers consider EVs, the company’s approach keeps traditional gas-powered trucks in the game while adapting to an electric future.

Whether this strategy will pay off remains to be seen, but for now, Stellantis is keeping combustion engines alive—and giving buyers plenty of options to choose from.

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