Stellantis Explores A Shape-Shifting Truck Bed Cover

  • Stellantis filed a patent for an adjustable sloped truck bed cover.
  • The cover can rise at an angle to improve aerodynamic efficiency.
  • Internal panels reposition to reshape the cover while driving.

In the endless quest to make trucks sleeker, smarter, and somehow still trucks, Stellantis is experimenting with a clever new tonneau cover that aims to blend the practicality of conventional designs with the aerodynamic benefits of a sloped, fastback-style cover, something in the vein of what Tesla’s Cybertruck already offers.

The company filed a patent for the design with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on December 25. The filing includes diagrams and a detailed description of the system, which looks markedly different from anything we’ve currently seen on the market.

Also: Ford F-150 With Mustang Mach 1-Inspired Fastback Bed Cap Just Looks Weird

Most of the time, the tonneau cover is positioned flat across the bed of a pickup truck, functioning like any standard unit. However, if drivers want to maximize aerodynamic efficiency while on the move, the cover has triangular-shaped movable panels sitting inside the walls of the bed.

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These internal panels can lift upward, along with a third panel located near the rear bed wall, shifting the cover into an angled configuration. According to Mopar Insiders, which first spotted the filing, the transformation is designed to reduce drag while the truck is in motion.

Not only would this design improve aerodynamics over a flat cover, but it would also increase the amount of cargo that can be stored and protected in the bed. The patent also showcases a small flat aerodynamic spoiler that could be deployed at the rear of the cover.

Stellantis Explores A Shape-Shifting Truck Bed Cover

Illustration Carscoops

The trade-off of the design is that owners would have to live with a cover that makes a regular pickup look like a knock-off Tesla Cybertruck. Of course, the cover wouldn’t only work for future electric pickups from the Stellantis family, but also current combustion-powered models, contributing to better fuel efficiency.

Read: Stellantis Is Quietly Building A Tri-Motor EV Setup That Can Power Itself

As with many patents, there’s no guarantee the concept will make it to production. And even if it does, it’s unlikely to be standard equipment on any upcoming models. If Stellantis moves forward with it, expect this angled tonneau to show up as a high-priced option rather than a factory default.

Stellantis Explores A Shape-Shifting Truck Bed Cover

The Auto World

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