Stellantis Extends Fiat 500 Production Halt to Fifth Week

Stellantis is extending the production halt of the Fiat 500 at its Mirafiori plant in Turin, Italy, into a fifth week. Workers on the Fiat 500 lines will remain on furlough from November 16-20, although operations for Maserati and Special Vehicle will continue.

A company spokesperson attributed the stoppages to a supplier shortage of a component for the N3 GSE engine control unit, warning that disruptions could persist through December. However, Igor Albera, a representative for the FIM-CISL union, stated that weak demand for the model also contributed to the shutdown.

Albera noted that reports of the plant reopening for only two weeks before the end of the year are credible, as a two-week production run is "more than enough to cover the current order book for the Fiat 500, both hybrid and electric." Labor unions warned that repeated lay-offs have created significant production and employment uncertainty for the workforce.