Stellantis has announced a temporary halt in the production of the electric Fiat 500 at its Mirafiori plant in Turin, Italy, from 2 December to 5 January. This decision comes in response to weak market demand for electric vehicles in Europe and in some non-European countries like China and the United States.
Trade unions had anticipated a full production stoppage at the Turin plant for the entire month of December. Stellantis communicated to unions that assembly operations would cease from 2 December to 17 December, extending the plant’s downtime. The plant, which also manufactures two Maserati sports cars, will add this production pause to its previously scheduled end-of-year holiday closure.
Despite the production halt, certain parts of the Mirafiori complex, such as administrative offices and research sites, will continue to operate. The plant is a significant employer in the region, with around 13,000 staff members.
In addition to the production pause at the Mirafiori plant, Stellantis recently announced plans to close its Luton plant in the UK, which has been producing Vauxhall vehicles since 1905. The Luton plant, employing approximately 1,100 workers, currently manufactures combustion engine light commercial vehicles and was set to begin production of an electric version of the Vivaro van in 2025.
Furthermore, Stellantis is planning temporary production halts at two southern Italy plants amid investment discussions. The Termoli engine plant will pause from December 16-22, and the Cassino auto factory will stop on November 29, with workers being furloughed during these periods, according to Reuters.
These developments underscore the challenges facing the automotive industry as it navigates changing market dynamics and transitions towards electric vehicle production. Stellantis’ strategic decisions reflect the need to adapt to evolving consumer preferences and market trends in the automotive sector.
