Stellantis Cutting 500 Jobs At Melfi Plant Amid Restructuring Efforts

Stellantis is set to cut up to 500 jobs through a new round of voluntary exits at its Melfi Assembly Plant in southern Italy, according to a statement from the Fiom-Cgil labor union. The plant, which employs around 5,000 workers, builds a number of vehicles for the global automaker, including models from the Jeep® and DS Automobiles brands.

This move follows Stellantis’ recent announcement to cut another 350 positions across its Pomigliano and Pratola Serra facilities through voluntary redundancy agreements.

Samuele Lodi, a Representative from the Fiom-Cgil union, expressed growing concern over the trend. “It seems that a real plan to divest from Italy is taking shape,” Lodi stated, adding that the union refused to sign off on the job cuts.

The Melfi plant, located in Italy’s Basilicata region, has been a key manufacturing hub for the company for decades. Stellantis plans to ramp up production of the all-new Jeep® Compass (J4U) and DS N°8 vehicles at the plant this year, with future models—including a new Lancia Gamma vehicle—expected in the coming years. However, those additions aren’t expected to significantly boost output or job retention until late 2025 or beyond.

In December, Stellantis submitted a proposal to the Italian government outlining its vision for revitalizing Italian vehicle production, following several years of declining output. While that plan included new vehicle assignments for domestic plants, union leaders and workers say they have yet to realize meaningful job growth.

Stellantis has yet to issue a public statement regarding the Melfi job reductions.

Source: Reuters