The DS N°8 has seen its first production models, but did you know that Stellantis’ new flagship, or even the new flagship of the French car industry, is not produced in France?
The French DS N°8 is not made in France, but on the other side of the Alps, in Italy, specifically at the Melfi plant in the Basilicata region of southern Italy.
The DS N°8 is the group’s first model to use the STLA Medium multi-powered platform. However, the Melfi plant has been operating since 1994 and has produced numerous models: three generations of the Fiat Punto, the Lancia Y and Ypsilon, and more recently the Fiat 500X, Jeep Renegade, and Compass.
The arrival of the DS N°8 at the Italian plant marks the beginning of a plan agreed upon between Stellantis, the Italian government, and the Italian Ministry of Enterprise and Industry.
The plant will play a crucial role in the Stellantis Group’s electric transformation strategy, with at least seven new models set to be launched in the coming years, all on the same platform used by the DS N°8.
Among the first to join it at Melfi are the next Jeep Compass, but also the new Lancia Gamma, already announced by the Italian manufacturer, or even the next DS 7.
The DS N°8 will attempt a new approach in the premium segment, following the disastrous failure of the DS 9 sedan. Orders opened last February at a competitive starting price of €59,200, targeting German luxury car manufacturers.
For this price, you’ll get the DS N°8 in the Pallas trim, which delivers 230 hp to the front wheels and a 74 kWh battery that provides a range of 550 kilometers.
There’s also a more powerful two-wheel-drive version, offering 245 hp and a 97.2 kWh battery, increasing the range to 750 km. It’s priced at €63,300.
A third all-wheel-drive version is available, increasing power to 350 hp. It’s priced at €74,600, and comes exclusively in Étoile. With production currently underway, the first deliveries of the DS No. 8 are expected in the second half of 2025.
Stellantis faces numerous problems, including a dispute between the former CEO and the Italian government. This appears to be on the way to being resolved, but declining sales and new US tariffs are increasing the pressure on the company.
This is not to mention the intense competition between companies in Europe on the one hand and with Chinese companies on the other.
