Stellantis tests autonomous prototype at Auburn Hills headquarters

Stellantis Tests Autonomous Prototype Inside Auburn Hills Headquarters

Stellantis is deploying AI development tools to compress vehicle software engineering cycles from years into weeks inside its Auburn Hills, Michigan technical center. The automaker is testing prototype hardware, including a heavily modified Grand Cherokee equipped with a dashboard kill switch, as engineering teams race to overhaul internal systems amid widening financial pressures across its global operations.

Engineering Transformation Powered by Artificial Intelligence Tools

Joydip Saha stated that his team built the Grand Cherokee’s hands-free system in six weeks utilizing AI tools, a task that historically required a year or 18 months. Saha serves as the owner of Stellantis’ L2+/Hands Free highway assist system and still test-drives software builds twice weekly. Despite efficiency gains, Saha enforces strict boundaries on automation. He prohibits engineers from using AI to architect systems, noting that developers must understand underlying code to debug effectively.

Across the 5.4-million-square-foot Chrysler Technology Center—built by Lee Iacocca, who broke ground on the site in 1986 and dedicated it in 1991—other leaders report similar timeline compressions. Amanda French, who leads the company’s platform teams, is developing the flexible STLA One platform.

Financial Pressures and European Market Exposure

The operational acceleration arrives as Stellantis confronts severe financial headwinds. The automaker posted a second-quarter adjusted operating margin of 1.8%, falling well short of CEO Antonio Filosa’s 7% target for 2030. Stellantis is the member of Detroit’s Big Three most exposed to Europe, accounting for approximately 38% of its 2025 revenue. European operations have faced ongoing profitability challenges, while battery-electric vehicles comprised 17.4% of new EU registrations last year, compared to 7.8% in the U.S.

In North America, the expiration of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit on September 30, 2025, disrupted electrification strategies. In February, the company recorded a €22.2 billion (approximately $26.5 billion) write-down, contributing to a year-to-date share price decline of nearly 60%. Mel Roberts, the director of North American infotainment, acknowledged that the collapse of electrification ambitions fundamentally altered product planning across the organization.

Corporate Restructuring and Centralized Architecture Goals

Chief Engineering & Technical Officer Ned Curic, who joined Stellantis after stints at Amazon, Microsoft, and Toyota, admitted the organization is not where it needs to be. To streamline production, software teams are consolidating hundreds of fragmented electronic control units into a centralized architecture named STLA Brain. Concurrently, platform teams are developing STLA One to stretch from small B-segment cars to midsize D-segment vehicles, targeting more than 2 million units across 30+ models by 2035. Stellantis aims to reduce development timelines for its STLA Brain and STLA SmartCockpit software from four years down to 24 months, with commercial deployment scheduled to begin across two models in 2027.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Stellantis record its multibillion-dollar write-down?

Stellantis recorded a write-down of roughly €22.2 billion (about $26.5 billion) in February following the expiration of the federal EV tax credit on Sept. 30, 2025.

How large is the Chrysler Technology Center in Auburn Hills?

The campus spans 5.4 million square feet, making it the second-largest building in the United States by floor space, trailing only the Pentagon.

When does Stellantis plan to launch its 24-month software development cycle?

Stellantis intends to cut development time for its STLA Brain and STLA SmartCockpit software down to 24 months starting with two vehicle models in 2027.

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