No Mirafiori, as the government and unions hoped for, but also nothing in France, Germany or Spain: to produce the future Chinese electric cars of its partner Leapmotor, Stellantis’ choice would have fallen on the Polish (formerly FCA) factory in Tychy. The sources of the indiscretion, which have been in the air since the signing of the agreement between Stellantis and Leapmotor, are the statements of some managers of the Chinese manufacturer collected from the market and reported by MF. The decision was driven by lower costs compared to other countries, ours in particular. In September, therefore, the start of the small electric T03 would be expected and, to follow, a further model.
Among the unions, the first to react was Fiom-Cgil which, in a note, considered the fact “very serious when confirmed” by Stellantis. «No communication was made to the workers’ organizations – the union points out – and there was no discussion on the merits. During the last meeting in Turin with the CEO of Stellantis, Carlos Tavares (in the photo), we were told that some evaluations were being made and that, in any case, Italy would be a possibility to take into consideration”.
«It is clear however – adds Samuele Lodi, national secretary and Fiom-Cgil mobility manager – that Stellantis is proceeding on its path of disengagement from our country which not even the announcement of the hybrid Fiat 500 in Mirafiori, from 2026, can dispute. All this a few days after ACC’s announcement to block (without knowing for how long) the development of the gigafactory project in Termoli”.
The request, to be shared with the other unions, is to urgently convene a summit at Palazzo Chigi «to give concrete prospects to the automotive sector in
Italy”. The production in Europe of electric cars by the Chinese Leapmotor, of which Stellantis holds 20% and paid 1.5 billion, would circumvent the application of the heavy duties (up to 48.1%) expected from July 4th.
