We all know the type: graying beard, enveloping PitVipers, a MAGA hat quietly retired after last week’s deep blue beatdown, and a clean, polished pickup truck parked in the driveway that they “need to tow.” However, with Stellantis’ new patent for an AI-powered electric tow dolly that turns almost ANY vehicle into a capable tow dolly, they may need a new excuse to stick with that gas guzzler.
Originally filed in 2023, Stellantis received US Patent No. 12,779,916 for its electric trailer dolly on November 3, 2026. The patent covers a machine that is designed to support the load of the trailer hitch with its own ball hitch or fifth wheel plate, using an onboard electric motor and battery to power the trailer while its regenerative braking system and AI-backed steering and traction control system They keep everything pointed in the right direction.
In other words, the dolly takes on many of the tasks traditionally required by a large tow vehicle: providing pulling power, managing the weight of the trailer, and controlling its braking and traction. The vehicle in front doesn’t necessarily need a huge engine, heavy-duty suspension, or oversized brakes. With a system like this, one could argue that the “tow vehicle” is not actually a tow vehicle. It’s more of a “lead vehicle” since the dolly does the towing… and it can follow almost anything, including the tiny (and extremely affordable) Fiat 500e, which Stellantis also makes.
What’s really in the patent?
To be clear, this isn’t just Uncle Jojo making fun of transportation vehicles: Stellantis’ patent describes the dolly as equipped with an autonomous control system that uses cameras, sensors, a controller, and an advanced four-wheel steer-by-wire system. It also specifically discusses how the dolly’s acceleration, braking, and steering and roll controls essentially eliminate the need to own a truck in the first place.
The truck’s bed sides and small size allow users to experience the functionality and utility of a truck only when they need it, allowing them to own a smaller, more economical, and more fuel-efficient vehicle that fits everyday use needs.
US PATENT No.
Of course, there are still some pretty obvious practical questions to answer, including how much battery capacity the dolly would need, how much weight it could carry, and how it would perform on long slopes or in emergency braking situations. And, to be clear, a patent is not a product announcement or proof that Stellantis plans to put one of these things on sale (heck, if I were the CEO of Stellantis, I’d patent this just to prevent someone else from building one so I could keep selling old, low-tech, high-margin Ram trucks), but it’s a good idea.
I think it’s cool, anyway. What do you think? Are you ready to trade in your big-battery Chevy Silverado EV or Volvo VNR 800 for a new Topolino, or are you going to continue driving inefficiently 99% of the time? Let us know in the comments.
FOUNTAIN: Stellantis, via Mopar Insiders.
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