Opel on the electric transition, the point with Federico Scopelliti

Federico Scopelliti takes stock of Opel's electric transition.From farewell to internal combustion engines in 2028 to the need to create a sense of propensity for electric.

He has been leading the brand since last November Opel in Italy, with a challenging objective, "to fully implement the electrification of the range which already sees four fully electric models on sale in Italy (Opel Corsa-e, Mokka-e, Combo-e Life and Zafira-e Life) and three plug-in hybrids (Opel Astra and Grandland), as a note explains.To which are added the electric versions of the commercial Combo-e Cargo, Vivaro-e and Movano-e. Federico Scopelliti, director of the Opel brand, Milanese, a degree in business economics from Bocconi, after having followed the complex integration between the FCA groups (the Italian-American Fiat Chrysler Automobiles led for a long time by Sergio Marchionne) and PSA (the French industrial group to which the Peugeot, Citroën, DS Automobiles and Opel brands belonged, now merged into the Stellantis group) and having held the role of head of e-mobility of the group, today he is the leader of the brand German.A progressive transition for Opel, which by 2024 provides for the introduction of an electrified version for each model, with the (electric) rebirth of iconic models such as the Manta.

In 2028, farewell to internal combustion engines

“Opel has a very clear strategy which is to become a 100 percent electric brand starting from 2028.We already have 12 models in the range and by next year we will have all the electrified models, today we are the fifth brand in the electric market", explained Scopelliti, underlining how thehydrogen represents a parallel technology for Opel, already available in markets where there is a distribution network, such as Holland, France and Germany.But Opel's electric transition has distant origins:In the 1971 the first electric prototype, it was called Elektro GT and was equipped with 2 direct current electric motors that generated 88 kW (120 horsepower) of power;the 4 nickel cadmium batteries were supplied by Varta and installed next to and behind the driver.

On electrics you need to create a sense of propensity in people

Then, decades dominated by diesel and petrol models, until the farewell to internal combustion engines set for 2028, at least in Europe.A brand recognized for years for its concreteness, Opel today thinks of electric as a future that is now present, including the development of hydrogen in its strategies.Among the oldest automotive companies, the first car dates back to 1899, in 2011 Opel launches the Ampera, a revolutionary hybrid, where the internal combustion engine had the role of a generator, allowing the car to always move electrically.

“Today there are 12 electric models of the brand” (from the Corsa city car to the 8-seater Zafira Life), including commercial vehicles, “but on a market like the Italian one, in addition to the offer, it is necessary to create a sense of propensity in the consumer” .In short, a complex path awaits Federico Scopelliti, who we asked to play a "game", that is, to comment with him on some of the key words that define the new mobility, present and future.And here's how it went.

Sustainability

Two words come to mind, urgency and responsibility.Because, if it is true that "the era of global warming is over, the era of global boiling has begun", as he said recently António Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations, I believe it is necessary to work for a future that gives priority to the new generations.And we have to do it today.There is an urgency that must push us to intervene at all levels, and in this sense I believe that the automotive industry can do its part.

Autonomous vehicles

With autonomous driving we must proceed step by step.The watchword for mobility is safety and in this sense I believe that the main added value ofautonomous car is precisely to guarantee a greater level of road safety, in all conditions and above all for all users.We are investing heavily in development, tracing different levels of autonomous driving, from the current level 2 already available, up to level 5 (the one in which the car drives itself, without human intervention, ed).Already today we are able to offer the customer a level of autonomous driving that allows them to experience the increase in safety in different conditions, for the other levels it is necessary on the one hand that the technology makes further progress, on the other that the road regulations suitable for change, a complex change thinking about the urban fabric of our cities.

Electric mobility

At Opel we want to relate to potential customers interested in electric cars in total transparency.This is why we invest a lot in training our sales network which is the main point of contact for telling even skeptics about the beneficial advantages of electric.But also how to manage the possible transition to electric with serenity, considering all the aspects linked to life styles and contexts.There electric mobility it is an evolution that must be carried out gradually, it cannot be an immediate transition, because today there are no conditions for it to happen.However, we can certainly make progress and ensure that Italy also achieves greater diffusion of electric vehicles, as happens in other European countries.We certainly need to work on those people who could already switch to electric today, reaping all the benefits, but who are held back by widespread misinformation.Here, it is them, to resolve this uncertainty, that we are working at Opel.

5G and connected vehicles

I believe that the lockdown has given a notable acceleration in general on the topic of connectivity and the advantages of being connected.We learned to work remotely, we thought it was impossible but we are still doing it now.We are finding a balance between the physical and the virtual in our sector too, especially in the car sales processes.We have introduced an online channel which is working well.The offline and online processes must be two worlds that intersect, where the customer can move from an online evaluation phase to a test phase of the car in the dealership, and then finalize the purchase.In the Stellantis group, Opel is the brand that is pushing a lot online.

Urban Air Mobility

It is certainly a very fascinating scenario which could revolutionize the mobility of goods and people.If we think we can order a good online and then receive it the same day thanks to a drone that perhaps lands on your terrace... Here too there could be some analogies with autonomous driving;on the one hand I believe that current technological development is already very advanced, on the other I think that a lot still needs to be done on the battery side and therefore autonomy and on noise, together with the certainly very complex regulatory aspect.

Sharing

Sharing is a channel that we have been developing very quickly in recent years, a revolution that is essentially affecting all car manufacturers.We are currently in a transition phase, from traditional car sharing formulas, I am thinking of classic free floating, to different solutions, which allow the user to access forms of rental designed on subscription models, where the customer can simply manage the car as if it were a subscription, where it is possible to select the car, use it even for just a month and then replace it.

Future

I associate the word optimism with the future.We must be optimistic.I believe that only with an optimistic approach can we best experience the great transition that mobility is experiencing, towards increasingly sustainable models.If we work as a team, I am convinced that we will be able to evolve and overcome the current problems.However, a common direction is needed.In ten years, thinking back to today, we will probably look at petrol or diesel cars as if they were a distant past, smiling.