Chrysler relaunches Canadian-made gas-powered 300 sedan as auto show shifts to electric future | CBC News

After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, North America’s largest auto show returns this week in Detroit, giving consumers their first glimpse of what the trillion-dollar auto industry has in store.

The North American International Auto Show is held in Michigan’s Motor City, but there was some interesting news for Canadians on Wednesday when Chrysler announced plans to restart the 300 sedan — which is made in Canada.

Beginning with the 2023 model year, Chrysler will manufacture the gas-powered sedan at its Brampton, Ontario plant. First launched in 2005, the 300 enjoyed strong sales for about a decade before demand dwindled even before the COVID-19 pandemic as smaller and more fuel-efficient models became more popular. The last version of the 300 rolled off the assembly line in 2020.

Chrysler, part of multinational automaker Stellantis, will make about 2,000 of the cars for the US market and about 200 for Canada for a final run before the vehicle is finally retired. In addition to the 300, Chrysler’s Brampton plant also makes gas-powered Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger vehicles, both of which will also be discontinued after next year.

“This is the final model year for the 300,” Chrysler Brand CEO Christine Feuell told CBC News. “We really wanted to give our 300 enthusiasts something to celebrate by letting this version go under.”

She added, “We’re hoping to build up enough inventory to have some stock sales for a while… until the new product hits the market.”

Electric cars in focus

The new product Feuell is teasing is mostly electric, as Chrysler is banking heavily on electric vehicles for its future, just like many other automakers are doing.

Chrysler wants to launch its first battery-powered electric car in 2025, but the electric transition will happen quickly: Within seven years, the brand wants to offer only vehicles with electric drives, closing the book on internal combustion engines.

“Our transition really starts in the next few years as we move to full electrification,” Feuell said.

While the displays at the Detroit auto show carry the familiar brand names that car buyers have become accustomed to, there are some newcomers to the event that hint at the electric future of the industry.

A Detroit-based startup called Plug Zen is there showing off its range of charging stations and infrastructure. So does Harbinger Motors, an aptly named electric vehicle maker whose product range is a signal of what’s to come for delivery trucks.

Another company, Blue Arc, is also there showing off its portable car charger that can be powered by sun or wind, which could help relieve the grid if it becomes overloaded.

“The device is designed to be dropped off anytime, anywhere to be charged in minutes,” said CEO Eric Fisher. “Think of it like a mobile gas station.”

The truck division of Swedish brand Volvo announced plans for six new electric trucks, aiming to have half of its fleet electric by the end of the decade.

Such is the electric excitement that US President Joe Biden showed up in Detroit and announced his administration’s plan to spend $900 million to build a network of charging stations covering 85,300 kilometers of roads in 35 states.

His latest infrastructure bill includes a new federal tax credit of up to $7,500 for anyone who buys an electric vehicle, as long as it’s built in North America. Batteries for qualifying vehicles must also be manufactured in North America, and there are requirements for battery minerals to be produced or recycled on the continent.

The tax credit aims to create an electric vehicle supply chain in the US and end dependency on other countries, mainly China.

Biden then toured the new electric Ford Mustang Mach-E and marveled at the model’s performance with Ford CEO Bill Ford. “The speed is amazing,” Biden said, adding, “Does it have a start button?” He also explored less flashy vehicles, like Ford’s all-electric E-Transit van and F-150 truck.

Biden eventually got behind the wheel of an all-electric Cadillac Lyriq, which starts at $63,000, and briefly drove it down an aisle of the blue-carpeted concourse. It was a rare opportunity to drive — albeit at little more than walking pace — for the President, who normally travels in US Secret Service armored vehicles.

“Get in, I’ll drive you to Washington,” he joked to reporters. “It’s a beautiful car,” he added, “but I love the Corvette.”