Automotive News Europe — 2024-03-07
Automotive Industry
The Mirafiori factory will operate at a reduced rate of one eight-hour daily shift, instead of the two regular ones.
Stellantis will extend a period of reduced operations at its Mirafiori complex in Italy due to weak demand for its full-electric Fiat New 500 small car and Maserati models, the UILM union said.
The stoppage, which started on 12 February 2024, had already been extended to 30 March 2024, but the automaker has now informed unions that the furlough period will end only on 20 April 2024, UILM said in a statement.
It will involve over 2,200 workers at the plant, located in Turin.
A spokesman for Stellantis confirmed the news provided by the UILM union.
During the period, Mirafiori will continue to operate at a reduced rate of one eight-hour daily shift, instead of the two regular ones, as it has happened since mid-February 2024, except for the current week, when the plant was totally stopped.
Italy in February 2024 launched a new plan, worth €950 m ($1 bn) for 2024, to help drivers switch to cleaner vehicles, which includes subsidies of up to €13,750 for the purchases of fully-electric cars.
The program has not yet become effective, prompting some potential buyers to delay purchases.
To improve Mirafiori's capacity use, Stellantis is considering building up to 150,000 low-cost EVs a year from Leapmotor in the plant in Turin to be sold by Stellantis's European dealers, sources have told Automotive News Europe.