Stellantis Halts Production Again at Iconic Mirafiori Plant

Stellantis has announced another production halt at its renowned Mirafiori Assembly Plant in Turin, Italy. The facility, a hub for producing the all-electric Fiat 500e, the Maserati GranCabrio, and the Maserati GranTurismo, faces a temporary shutdown in December due to ongoing supply chain disruptions. This comes just weeks after the plant resumed operations on November 1, following a two-month pause caused by weak demand.

Supply Chain Issues and Scheduling Uncertainty – 

Initial reports suggested Stellantis planned limited production in December to address a backlog of Fiat 500e orders. However, Italian newspaper MF claims that supply shortages may force the factory to remain idle until January. Stellantis responded to these reports, emphasizing that the December production schedule is under review.

“This is a rumor that has no official confirmation,” a Stellantis spokesperson said. “The company will verify in the coming weeks the production schedules for December.”

Impact on Fiat and Maserati Lines – 

The Mirafiori plant is central to Stellantis’ European electric vehicle (EV) strategy, particularly the Fiat 500e. Unfortunately, demand for the compact EV has been lackluster, with only 439 units sold in the U.S. market this year. To address these challenges, Stellantis plans to invest €110 million ($115.9 million) to enhance the 500e’s battery performance and introduce a hybrid version in 2025.

The production halt also impacts Maserati models built at Mirafiori, though Stellantis has not specified how the luxury brand’s output will be adjusted.

Worker Furloughs and Local Reactions – 

Mirafiori’s workforce will face furloughs lasting two to three weeks if the shutdown proceeds as anticipated. Rocco Cutri, head of the FIM-Cisl union in Turin, confirmed that workers are bracing for another disruption during the critical holiday season.

Stellantis Balances EV Ambitions and Production Challenges –

The Mirafiori stoppage underscores Stellantis’ struggles to balance its ambitious EV goals with real-world supply chain issues. While the company’s investment in the Fiat 500e reflects its commitment to the EV market, repeated production pauses could erode consumer confidence and disrupt its long-term plans.

With no official confirmation of the December halt, all eyes remain on Stellantis for updates regarding its iconic Italian plant.