Stellantis Scales Tech Sourcing for Manufacturing Plants
The automaker uses open challenges to source solutions from suppliers to improve operations across its global plant network.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Manufacturing
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Stellantis held its annual Factory Booster Day, connecting 63 manufacturing plants with external technology partners to solve production challenges. The initiative helps the automaker source scalable solutions in automation and AI to support its FaSTLAne 2030 strategic plan.
Why it matters
By crowdsourcing manufacturing solutions from startups and suppliers, Stellantis aims to identify and standardize efficient, repeatable fixes across its global plant network. This strategy allows the manufacturer to accelerate process improvements by bypassing traditional, slower internal R&D cycles.
Stellantis received proposals from over 280 suppliers and startups, ultimately selecting 80 to present solutions for challenges submitted by 63 company plants. These pilot projects are intended for potential rollout across the firm's broader international manufacturing network.
The players
Stellantis
A multinational automotive manufacturing corporation that produces a wide range of vehicle brands and operates a global network of production facilities.
The details
The Factory Booster Day utilizes an Open Challenge process where individual plants identify specific technical pain points. Selected suppliers demonstrate innovations in robotics, digital manufacturing, energy management, and vision systems. Successful pilots move from testing at specific sites to becoming standardized operational procedures throughout the company.
Timeline
The Factory Booster Day event series began in 2016.
Stellantis held the 2026 Factory Booster Day on October 21, 2026.
Market Landscape
The Factory Booster Day serves as a tactical mechanism to execute the operational goals established under the FaSTLAne 2030 strategic plan. This sourcing model represents a shift toward open innovation, allowing large-scale manufacturers to rapidly integrate external technologies.
Operators should monitor the technology categories Stellantis prioritizes, such as vision systems and energy management, as these often indicate upcoming industry-wide efficiency requirements. Businesses supplying large manufacturers should look for similar open-challenge formats to bypass standard procurement channels.
The takeaway
Large-scale manufacturers are increasingly moving away from closed R&D in favor of modular, external partnerships that promise rapid, repeatable site deployment. Business owners should track the specific automation challenges highlighted by industry leaders to identify niche gaps where their own technologies could provide scalable value.
Further reading
For broader trends in industrial production technology, visit our Manufacturing section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Automotive World.
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