Stellantis to invest €2 billion in Italian plants

Stellantis outlined a more or less detailed plan for each one of them at a roundtable at the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy. It will start manufacturing vehicles based on the STLA-Small platform at the Pomigliano plant from 2028. According to the press release, the group plans to offer two new models based on the platform. Fiat produces the Fiat Panda (also called Pandina) in Pomigliano. Production there was initially only planned until 2027 but was extended until 2030.

Stellantis also confirmed that the Mirafiori in Turin will “be the base for the production of the hybrid [Fiat] 500 and the new generation of the electric [Fiat] 500 BEV.” However, production there was halted several times in recent months due to weak demand. Starting in January, Turin will also be home to the headquarters for Stellantis Europe, as well as for the Group’s commercial vehicle division.

The Cassino plant in central Italy will build three models based on the STLA-Large. That includes the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, which will roll of the production line from 2025, and the Alfa Romeo Giulia from 2026. According to Stellantis, “hybrid, as well as electric, versions is also being evaluated.”

Models based on the STLA-Medium platform will come from Melfi. The Automaker specifies that it will build seven new models there in the coming years. Starting next year, it will be home to the electric SUV coupé DS n°8, Lancia’s electric flagship model Gamma, the DS7, and the Jeep Compass. The last two are plug-in hybrids and will, according to the press release, also be offered with a purely electric drive.

These plans are not new, however, there are some notable changes. For instance, the Lancia was supposed to launch in 2026 but will now, according to Stellantis, be built starting next year. And reports in 2022 said the DS models would likely be a crossover called the DS 9 Crossback and an SUV to succeed the DS 7 Crossback – now it seems to be the new generation of the latter, which will (apparently) also be available with an all-electric drive. However, Stellantis mentions the fact that all models mentioned for the plant will be all-electric rather casually – needless to say, there is no technical information about the model yet. As the DS 7 has been around since 2018, and the vehicle will be based on the STLA-Medium, the additional drive option makes sense.

Atessa will “play an increasingly central role in Stellantis’ strategic plan,” says the manufacturer. It will start production of a new version of Large Van there in 2027. Modena will become its ‘Made in Italy’ hub – “involving the production ecosystem of the Motor Valley in this mission to develop the project together with all the players in the supply chain, from design to pre-industrialization, with the best national components in terms of innovation and circularity, part of an overall effort to enhance the ‘Made in Italy’ brand aimed exclusively at high-end cars produced in our country.”

At the very end of the press release, Stellantis also mentions its battery cell joint venture Automotive Cells Company (ACC) – which belongs to Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz and TotalEnergies. “Stellantis reiterated its commitment to financially supporting the joint venture, which will communicate its plan in 2025 and which remains open to studying the construction of the Gigafactory,” the company states. Italy just recently withdrew its support for the joint venture, redistributing around 200 million euros in EU funds earmarked for the ACC factory in Termoli for other purposes.

ACC is currently pausing construction work on two of its three planned battery cell plants. The sites in Kaiserslautern and Termoli in Italy have been affected. Work is officially on hold there to switch from nickel-based cell chemistry to more cost-effective battery technologies in the early construction phase. ACC intends to specify exactly what will happen in Kaiserslautern and Termoli at the end of 2024 or the beginning of 2025.

stellantis.com (in Italien)