Automotive News Europe — 2024-12-17
Automotive Industry
Stellantis on Dec. 17 announced a plan to revitalize its output in Italy during a meeting with Industry Minister Adolfo Urso and representatives of suppliers and trade unions. With the move, the automaker helped take a big step toward repairing relations with Italy’s right-wing government, which often clashed with former CEO Carlos Tavares.
Stellantis Europe boss Jean-Philippe Imparato outlined a multifaceted plan for the automaker’s operations in Italy.
Stellantis’ overall plan for Italy
Stellantis will keep all of its Italian factories open and increase output starting in 2026 thanks to the launch of new models. All Stellantis plants in Italy will have production allocations until 2032 and will not require public funds for planned investments.
Imparato said the automaker would invest €2 billion ($2.1 billion) in Italy in 2025 alone. Stellantis invested a total of €10 billion in Italy in the 2021-25 period, he added.
What role will the Italian government play in Stellantis’ future?
Urso pledged the government would spend €1.6 billion to support Italy’s automotive supply chain, with more than €1 billion to be made available next year.
Funds from Rome will not be used for new car purchase incentives in 2025, as happened this year.
What’s next for the Pomigliano d’Arco plant?
Stellantis will add at least two compact models at the facility in southern Italy, where the automaker will introduce its new STLA Small platform starting in 2028. The models include a replacement for the Alfa Romeo Giulietta compact, a vehicle that Imparato, who was previously CEO of Alfa Romeo, has said is needed to increase the automaker’s sales in Europe. The other could be the Lancia Delta compact, a model that Lancia CEO Luca Napolitano has announced will come in 2028.
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The group will also extend the production of the Panda minicar at Pomigliano until 2030 and assign the next-generation Panda to the same plant.
What’s next for the Melfi plant
The Jeep Compass, Lancia Gamma and DS 7 — three of the midsize models scheduled to be produced at the southern Italian plant, starting from 2025 — will be made in both full-electric and hybrid versions.
Of the three, only the Compass will have a plug-in hybrid variant.
This will help triple expected production volumes for the facility, Imparato said.
The plant will also manufacture the DS No. 8, which will be the only exclusively full-electric vehicle built in Melfi.
What’s next for the Cassino plant?
Stellantis will build three large models underpinned by the new STLA Large platform at the plant in central Italy, including the new Alfa Romeo Stelvio SUV starting next year and the Alfa Romeo Giulia sport sedan in 2026. They will be followed by an additional premium model, which could be either a flagship model for Alfa Romeo or a replacement for the Maserati Quattroporte luxury sedan.
Initially planned only as EVs, Alfa Romeo’s Stelvio and Giulia are now also being considered for hybrid versions, Imparato said.
What’s next for the Mirafiori plant?
Stellantis reiterated that a hybrid version of the 500 minicar will be manufactured at the Turin facility, home of Fiat, starting in late 2025. The next generation of this model will be produced at the plant until 2032 or 2033.
The group is weighing whether to increase dual-clutch transmission production at the complex to 900,000 units a year from 600,000 now.
Stellantis confirmed that the headquarters for its European light commercial vehicle operations, Pro One, will remain in Mirafiori.
What’s next for the Atessa van factory?
Production of large full-electric vans at the plant in the Abruzzo region, central Italy, started late this year, under the Fiat Professional, Peugeot, Citroen and Opel/Vauxhall brands.
A new version of Stellantis’s large van is scheduled in 2027.
What’s next for the Termoli plant?
ACC, the battery making joint venture between Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz and Total Energies, said it is continuing to reassess a plan to transform the engine making facility into a gigafactory, based on technology evolution, market demand and Italy’s general production conditions.
ACC this year delayed a plan to develop two gigafactories, in Italy and Germany, while operations have started already at its gigafactory in France.
What’s next for the Modena plant?
Maserati’s home plant will become the group’s hub for “high end,” Imparato said, without giving further details about plans to revive the ailing premium automaker.