MILAN (Reuters) – Fiat owner Stellantis (NYSE:) is expected to announce on Monday a hybrid version of its 500e small electric car that will be produced at its Mirafiori plant in Italy, two sources familiar with the matter said, confirming a report from Automotive. europe news.
The announcement is expected to be made at a scheduled meeting in Turin between CEO Carlos Tavares and unions, which are demanding a new, high-volume, cheap model for Mirafiori to revive its production.
The 500e is assembled on site in Turin, Fiat's historic home, but a global slowdown in all-electric vehicle sales has prompted Stellantis to slow production rates significantly, offering long furlough periods to factory workers.
The move may also help the automaker improve its relations with the Italian government, which has often criticized the group for lowering its production in the country and for manufacturing some Fiat and Alfa Romeo models abroad.
Stellantis – Italy's only major carmaker – and the government are in talks about a plan aimed at restoring the group's production in the country to 1 million cars by the end of this decade, from about 750,000 cars last year.
Industry Minister Adolfo Urso said on Saturday that an agreement was expected to be reached within a few days, including the announcement of new models for Italy's Stellantis factories.
Automotive News Europe said earlier on Monday that production of the new 500e hybrid could not start before late 2025. It added that Stellantis was aiming for a total annual production of 200,000 500 cars at Mirafiori, including 125,000 hybrids, Compared to less than 80 thousand cars produced last year.
The 500e plug-in hybrid will be based on the same platform as the 500e EV, while Fiat is phasing out the old version of the 500, the petrol-powered hybrid, which was assembled in Poland.
