Stellantis invests €1.2 billion in Morocco, but the announcement goes down badly in Italy: "a disgrace".

The announcement was intended to illustrate the global ambitions of Stellantis in sustainable mobility. But in Italy, it's anger that dominates. On July 17, 2025, the Franco-American-Italian group confirmed a massive 1.2 billion euro investment in the expansion of its Kenitra plant in Morocco, with 3,100 new hires, an increase in production to 535,000 vehicles/year by 2030, and a ramp-up of small, low-cost electric and hybrid vehicles. The aim? Make Morocco a strategic production hub for Africa and Europe.

Stellantis' industrial gamble in Africa

The Kénitra plant, already operational since 2019, is set to take on a whole new dimension. Here, Stellantis will increase production of compact electric vehicles, such as the Citroën Ami, Opel Rocks-e, Fiat Topolino to 70,000 units/year and, from July, a new three-wheeled electric vehicle, the Fiat Tris. Production of MHEV engines, which began in May, will reach 350,000 units/year by 2026. Not to mention production of the future Fiat Giga-Panda, Fastback and pick-up on the Smart Cart platform. Added to this is a local integration rate of 75 % and a production capacity that will target one million vehicles per year in Morocco by the end of the decade.

Stellantis is thus aligned with the ambitions of the "Dare Forward 2030" strategy and King Mohammed VI's vision of making Morocco an African leader in sustainable mobility. The Moroccan government has welcomed this "exemplary" partnership, which benefits from a favorable fiscal and industrial framework.

Political storm in Italy: "Another betrayal".

In Italy, however, the announcement provoked a wave of political indignation. Right and center alike, criticism rained down on John Elkann and new CEO Antonio Filosa. Carlo Calenda (Azione) criticized the "umpteenth catch for fools" and called for Elkann to be summoned, Minister Urso to be dismissed, and the country's industrial policies to be reviewed: "Italian production will not be revived by believing in vague promises".

For its part, the "Lega" denounces a "disgrace": "After closing factories and laying off workers in Italy, Stellantis is now hiring in Africa. And yet, for decades, the group has received millions of euros in Italian public aid. This is unacceptable.

Even more worrying is the domino effect on the Italian industrial ecosystem. Already, several Italian suppliers, notably around the Cassino site, have reportedly received invitations to relocate their production to Morocco, with the support of Stellantis... and incentives from the Moroccan government. A double-speed strategy that leaves little hope for a genuine industrial revival in Italy.

The million vehicles promised by Stellantis? It won't be made in Mirafiori or Pomigliano, but in Kénitra.

Another rift between Stellantis and Italy

Italy has the growing impression of being relegated to second place in Stellantis' global strategy. After the Fiat 600 and Alfa Romeo Junior in Poland, the Fiat Grande Panda in Serbia, the Fiat Topolino in Morocco and the Lancia Ypsilon in Spain, this announcement sounds like another slap in the face. Nevertheless, Italy will soon have the new Fiat 500 hybrid at Mirafiori and the Lancia Gamma at Melfi. But it won't be enough to achieve high sales volumes.

The Annual General Meeting on July 18, at which Antonio Filosa is due to present the Group's half-year results, will be closely scrutinized.