Stellantis Starts Road Testing Solid-State Dodge Charger Daytona
Stellantis and Factorial integrated FEST solid-state cells into a Dodge Charger Daytona development vehicle and began road testing on June 11, calling it the first automotive solid-state integration in North America.
Source: Stellantis
Solid-state battery headlines have been a decade of "soon." On June 11, 2026, Stellantis and Factorial moved the story one step closer to metal you might recognize: they integrated Factorial's FEST solid-state cells into a Dodge Charger Daytona development vehicle and began on-road validation.
The companies said the milestone is the first integration of solid-state cells into a Stellantis vehicle and the first automotive integration of the technology in North America. Stellantis Chief Engineering and Technology Officer Ned Curic said the goal is real benefits in a real vehicle, citing potential gains in range, charging speed, and cost.
Prior lab validation quoted 375 Wh/kg energy density, 15-to-90 percent charging in 18 minutes, and operation from minus 30 to 45 degrees Celsius. Engineers adapted pack architecture, controls, and safety systems rather than treating the cells as drop-in lithium-ion replacements.
Road testing is where marketing becomes engineering. Calibration, failure modes, and winter days nobody posts online still lie ahead. You should not preorder based on a development mule.
The Charger body choice matters culturally. This is not a compliance pod. For enthusiasts in Korean American and Vietnamese American car circles already arguing whether the Daytona EV counts as muscle heritage, battery progress is part of the identity fight. Range and charge time settle family objections. Identity settles group chat.
If solid-state scales, it changes road-trip math for luxury buyers comparing Lyriq, Model Y, and German SUVs. If it stalls, you still live in today's lithium-ion reality. Buy for your current routes and charging access. Waitlists for solid-state are not open.
Watch whether Stellantis publishes road-test results with the transparency independent testers demand. That tells you if this is engineering or a Charger silhouette in a press release.