FCA and Trade Unions Meet in Turin on Employment

The storied Fiat plant in Turin is guaranteed a future. Others?

At a little noticed meeting in Turin befogged by the Los Angeles Auto Show and autonomous vehicle mania, FCA CEO Mike Manley said: “Mirafiori will represent the first installation of a full BEV platform applied on the new Fiat 500, capable of scaling to other applications worldwide.” Future investments at FCA according to the business plan are focused on Full Electric and Hybrid powertrains.

The fate of other FCA plants is murkier given the FCA stated goal of “strong synergies achieved through common application of electrified powertrains and platform sharing” as presentedin the 2018-2022 Business Plan at FCA’s Capital Markets Day last June in Balocco. Other FCA Italian plants are currently operating under capacity without full employment. Overall Italian unemployment is more than 10%; Germany is ~3%.

“Additional investments across our Jeep, Alfa Romeo, and Fiat brands will realize the benefits of existing plant capacity as well as scale and sourcing efficiencies from a common vehicle architecture, and Plug-in Hybrid Electric propulsion (PHEV) system, while preserving traits unique to the brands,” said Manley.

Pietro Gorlier, Chief Operating Officer for the EMEA region said the Group’s industrial plan for Italy includes the launch of 13 all-new or restyled models during the 2019-2021 period, and the development of new powertrains with a significant focus on hybrid and electric technologies.

Investment in production of the new Fiat 500 BEV at Mirafiori (Turin), and the European Jeep Compass in Melfi, leverage the already installed vehicle platforms and PHEV which underpin the Jeep Renegade. Applying the same flexible platform and PHEV technology, activities will also begin to prepare Pomigliano to produce an Alfa Romeo compact SUV. A Fiat Panda MHV (Mild Hybrid Vehicle) will also be launched in Pomigliano.