- Chrysler has paused development on its first EV, which was supposed to debut in 2026.
- This raises questions regarding the timeline for the EV's launch.
- The CEO of Chrysler recently said that the EV is "coming soon" without sharing additional details.
We're going to have to wait even longer for a Chrysler EV, which is already a few years late. Work on the electric crossover that was set to be revealed next year has been suspended, making its fate seem uncertain.
Suppliers connected to the upcoming EV, internally designated C6X (CA), were notified to immediately stop spending because the “program has been put on hold until further notice.” The internal email, uncovered by Mopar Insiders, reveals yet another project setback after Chrysler heavily redesigned the crossover a year and a half after development had already started, scrapping the initial design.
We expected the Chrysler EV to be a production version of the Airflow concept. However, that design was completely changed 18 months into the development cycle in favor of a vehicle that has “literally zero to do with anything that you have seen today, even the Airflow concept car,” according to Stellantis design boss Ralph Gilles, who spoke to MotorTrend in 2023. "It is evolving in a new direction."
Since then, Chrysler has unveiled the Halcyon concept, showcasing a new design language. It also previews the brand’s second EV. The Airflow still resembled current and older Chrysler models, but the Halcyon seems like a clean-sheet design, and its styling will also be adopted for the electric crossover.
Automotive News quotes Chrysler CEO Chris Fuell, who confirmed the news that the electric crossover was on hold. She didn’t give any additional details about the EV, only saying that it is “coming soon,” followed by a model “inspired by the Halcyon concept.”
Whenever it arrives, Chrysler’s electric crossover will likely share its 400-volt STLA Large underpinnings with the new Dodge Charger EV, which hasn’t received much praise from reviewers. The same platform will likely serve as the basis for the Halcyon-inspired EV, which means both will probably have a 100-kilowatt-hour battery and an EPA range of over 300 miles, depending on the version (and the wheel size).
Chrysler needs new cars in its lineup since it only sells two models: the Pacifica, which will get a refresh for 2026, and the essentially identical Voyager. If the Pacifica wasn't as popular as it is (it was 2024’s fourth-best-selling plug-in hybrid in the United States), Chrysler would be virtually nonexistent in the local market.
