Stellantis will not leave Italy, it is just "fake news spread because they want to open the doors to the Chinese". The CEO, Carlos Tavares, wants to clear the field of any misunderstanding, recalls that the group has invested 5 billion euros in Italy in the last five years, but also takes the opportunity to send a clear message to the government. "If someone wants to introduce them in Italy they will be responsible for the unpopular decisions we might make. If we lose market share, fewer factories will be needed. We will fight, but when we fight there can be victims. We will not emerge victorious without scars", warns Tavares. "It is Stellantis that must reassure Italy, not Italy that must reassure Stellantis. Italy is the only country in Europe with a single car manufacturer. It is an anomaly that must be remedied", replies the minister of Business and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso.
Tavares is in Mirafiori for the inauguration of the line of electrified double clutch transmissions, with a fully operational production of 600,000 units per year. They will help power the future generation of Stellantis hybrid cars. It is a new piece of the Mirafiori Automotive Park 2030 project, which includes the Battery Technology Center, the Circular Economy Hub and the green campus. To the unions, whom he meets before the event, and to the institutions, Tavares reiterates that Mirafiori - where today the electric 500 and Maseratis are produced and where a lot of redundancy payments are made - is the heart of Stellantis. However, there is no new car model as the unions would like, who will demonstrate in Turin on April 12, for the first time after years together, to ask for the relaunch of the factory. An initiative which was also supported by the mayor Stefano Lo Russo and the governor of Piedmont Alberto Cirio. The most dissatisfied is Fiom which highlights "the lack of innovation", while for the other unions the meeting was nevertheless useful to focus on the requests necessary to strengthen Stellantis' presence in Italy. Cirio and Lo Russo assure the company maximum collaboration "with a pragmatic spirit" and "without nostalgia for the past".
For Mirafiori Tavares announces a further investment of 100 million euros to increase the potential of the Fiat 500e, with a platform that will integrate new generation battery technology to make the model more accessible, with an increase in production supported by incentives. "Many promises have been made to Italian consumers to facilitate access to electric vehicles, but the incentives have not yet arrived. We are always waiting. So let's invest", explains the manager who does not even exclude that the production of the Panda in Pomigliano could continue until 2030. Davide Mele, corporate affairs manager of Stellantis Italia also reassures on the future of the engineering presence in Italy and Turin considered strategic. In the meeting with the press Tavares does not comment on the investigation into the legacy of Marella Agnelli which involves the president of Stellantis John Elkann. "The governance of Stellantis and the work of the board of directors under the presidency of Elkann work very well and give stability to the company. I have to thank Elkann for the way he presides over the company. Our employees benefit from stable governance. The rest concerns the private sphere of Elkann that I cannot comment on."
After Turin Tavares participates in the presentation of the Alfa Romeo Milano, the new compact car from Biscione. "Someone wanted to buy Alfa, but it is perhaps the 'jewel' of our 14 brands.
We're not joking", observes the manager.