Termoli, a symbol of the Italian automotive industry, is facing the final straw a little more each day. And this time, it's the historic FIRE engine line that's being condemned. "We are witnessing the funeral of the FIRE engine", says the FIM CISL union bitterly. It adds: "It's a whole part of Italian industrial history that is crumbling, in the indifference of Stellantis and the silence of the institutions.
The end of an industrial myth
The FIRE engine powered several generations of Fiat and Alfa Romeo. It was one of the last symbols of Italian 100 % know-how still produced in the peninsula. Today, its line has been discontinued. The 8-valve engines are already out of production, and the 16-valve models will be phased out this summer. Production of the GME 2.0L or the Nettuno V6 is also threatened. What remains are GSE (FireFly) engines for the Fiat Panda and Alfa Romeo Tonale.
A future in pieces
In Termoli, the mood is mournful. Testimonies agree: trucks leave the plantThe last electric cabins on the transmission lines were swept away. The once vibrant site is gradually being emptied. "According to Gianluca Falcone of FIOM Molise, the site is being divested piece by piece. The project to convert the site into a gigafactory via ACC? Evaporated. Promise abandoned. Even John Elkann admitted it in April: "very difficult" to realize, too costly.
Spain, on the other hand, is attracting investors and manufacturers with its 4 billion euros and a strategic partnership with China's CATL. Meanwhile, the 370 million promised by the Molise region for the Gigafactory has disappeared from sight. The feeling of abandonment is growing.
Union anger, worker resignation
A few days ago, on April 29 in Termoli, FIM CISL held a crucial meeting. The tone is serious. "No concrete future, no guarantees for workers", insists Fabrizio Boschini, National Secretary. Stellantis' management style was judged to be "blind and visionless", based on "renunciation rather than reconstruction".
In the workshops, fewer than 2,000 employees today, compared with over 3,500 at the peak of activity. The eDCT line, which is supposed to save some jobs, will not be fully operational until 2026... for just 300 positions. The workers ask the question that everyone avoids: "And until then?"
The switch to electric power, which is supposed to justify all the upheaval, has not been followed by a clear strategy for Termoli. Today, even the future Fiat 500 hybrid due in November 2025, which is supposed to be assembled with 1.0 GSE blocks, still has no clear roadmap for Termoli. As for Maserati and Alfa Romeo, the hybridization of the V6 and GME remains a rumor.
A cry of alarm that echoes in the void
FIM CISL is now calling for an urgent ministerial meeting with Stellantis, ACC and the Italian government. The aim: to obtain clear commitments, concrete investments and, above all, a plan to avoid further job and skills losses. Because at Termoli, this is no simple industrial transition. "The future is built on courageous choices, not silence", sums up the union's statement. An increasingly deafening silence.
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You'll see, and I've got a good feeling about it, the 500 hybrid will finally be powered by a puretec. For the Italian 100% side, it's not great. But the 70hp 1.0 GSE is clearly too little... Whereas a micro-hybridized 1.2, found on many of the group's cars, would be much more interesting. Provided the promises of reliability have been kept!
It's long been confirmed that the 500 hybrid will not be powered by the PureTech, whose bad reputation is well established.
"But the 70hp 1.0 GSE is clearly too little..."
That's more than enough for an urban vehicle (which is what the 500 and Panda are).
"Whereas a micro-hybridized 1.2 found on many of the group's cars would be much more interesting."
Yes, for the after-sales service. Just take a look at the second-hand market and you'll see that owners of cars equipped with this engine are getting rid of them. Dealers can't even sell them anymore. Buying a car equipped with the 1.2L PureTech is akin to masochism.
"Provided that the promises of reliability have been kept!
For the moment, it's not looking good.
No, it's the 1.0 70 hp Firefly that already equips the Panda that will be on the 500, and it's official !!!
I francesi non siete adatti a fare i motori! Dovreste farli fare agli italiani! Motori Fire molto più affidabili! Fiat sta pagando le class action dell'incompetenza e della furbizia economica di molti dirigenti Peugeot a causa dei problemi del pure tech. Motore assolutamente mediocre! Sarebbe ora che la compagine italiana si facesse sentire e montasse i firefly e i Multijet sotto le Citroen Peugeot e altre auto del gruppo. I motori italiani sono ben superiori a quelle macchine da caffè francesi. In Brasile i motori firefly finalmente sotto le Peugeot. 1/2
Chi scrive è un ingegnere. Non di certo uno così! I motori italiani sono ben superiori a quelle macchine da caffè francesi. In America motori ingegnerizzati in Italia sotto le auto americane. È evidente che non sapete fare i motori. Cedete il passo. E farete un buon servizio agli azionisti Stellantis ed ai consumatori. Ho una Giulia 2.2 Multijet, quello sì che è un motore. Se la nuova dovesse avere componenti Peugeot, penso che andrò sulle tedesche. Macchine da caffè francesi non ne voglio! Saluti!
Bald wird der Name Fiat verschwinden, dank Stellantis. Keine Konzepte für Fiat, Lancia und Maserati.