Stellantis Plans Five C-Segment Models for Italian Plant, say Unions

Stellantis plans to begin production of five new C-segment battery electric cars aimed at European and Middle East markets from one of its Italian plants, according to union spokesmen.

Reuters reports the carmaker will build the models, from across a range of its brands, at the Melfi plant in southern Italy between 2024 and 2026. Union representatives say Stellantis announced details of its production plans for the plant during an executives’ meeting with them as part of attempts to smooth labour relationships in Europe while it faces prolonged strikes in North America over contract renewals.

Unions claim Stellantis had said it would build the new models at the plant using the new STLA medium platform and confirmed that Melfi would build a new model for the Jeep brand. Lack of clarity over the plant’s future prompted unions last month to call a one-day strike at the facility, one of the largest in Italy for the group, with around 5,800 workers.

New production in Melfi will start early next year with a DS model, followed in 2025 by the new Jeep Compass, which will come in both BEV and gas hybrid versions, plus another model for the DS luxury brand. Production of two more models, from the Opel and Lancia brands, will start in 2026.

Assembly of current models, Fiat's 500X, Jeep's Compass and Renegade, will be terminated between 2024 and 2025, the FIM-Cisl, Uilm, Fismic and Ugl unions said. The announcement makes Melfi Stellantis' first plant in Italy to be assigned with a clear and future-oriented mission, unions said. Gianluca Ficco and Marco Lomio of the UILM union called for the Italian government to increase efforts to support electric transition in the automotive industry.

— Paul Myles is a seasoned automotive journalist based in Europe. Follow him on Twitter @Paulmyles_  and Threads