Stellantis accelerates engineering with AI, but keeps humans in control

Stellantis is deploying AI across software development, aerodynamics and engineering research as it seeks to shorten vehicle development from four years to 24 months, starting with two models in 2027. Engineers report substantial gains: a hands-free driving system took six weeks to build with AI tools, compared with a year or even 18 months previously. An aerodynamic drag estimate now takes about three minutes, while the full simulation used to take 14 to 24 hours.

The push supports a broader effort to simplify vehicle electronics, consolidate computing through STLA Brain and reduce manufacturing costs. Stellantis faces a second-quarter adjusted operating margin of 1.8%, against CEO Antonio Filosa’s target of 7% for 2030. Chief Engineering & Technology Officer Ned Curic is promoting smaller teams, clear ownership and a willingness to automate existing responsibilities. Despite that emphasis, he has said the company plans to add “multiple hundreds” of engineers in Europe and the U.S. this year.

Human oversight remains central, particularly in safety-critical work. Hands-free driving engineering leader Joydip Saha bars AI from architectural decisions because engineers must retain debugging skills. Other teams check research results and limit AI to targeted analytical tasks. Adoption is uneven, with some engineers concerned about losing expertise. Faster analysis also does not eliminate physical testing constraints, and some staff say AI improves the quality of their work without saving time.