While Stellantis Although it has seen an increase in sales on the Italian market, the atmosphere remains particularly tense at Mirafiori. The Turin plant, which was supposed to get back on track thanks to the new Fiat 500 hybrid, is once again going through a period of uncertainty. Between weeks of downtime, extended vacations, and reduced production volumes, the employees interviewed by the local media outlet Torino Cronaca have drawn a troubling conclusion: many fear the return of short-time work.
Just a few weeks ago, we were already discussing the first warning signs. Production targets seemed difficult to meet, and several unions were already calling for the introduction of a second model to secure the plant’s industrial future. Accounts gathered outside the workshops now show that these concerns have become widespread throughout the factory.
«We realized that something was wrong»
At Gate 2 of the plant, during the shift change, several employees agreed to speak with reporters. Many pointed out that the Fiat 500 Hybrid—which is supposed to revitalize Mirafiori—is based on a model that has been around for several years. «Yes, there’s a new engine for the 500 Hybrid, but the model is already more than six years old,» explains one employee. «We’ve always said that wouldn’t be enough.»
Some people thought that production difficulties wouldn’t arise until the end of the year. In reality, things happened much sooner. The number of weeks of downtime increased, additional long weekends were added to the calendar, and the summer vacation was gradually extended.
«When we were told that we wouldn’t be working on Saturdays, that was the first warning sign,» says another employee. «Then came the long weekends and weeks-long closures. That’s when we realized something was wrong.»
«The nightmare of short-time work is back»
What worries employees the most is not just the sales figures for the Fiat 500 Hybrid. Many are particularly concerned about a widespread return to short-time work, which has already affected Mirafiori in recent years.
«We had hoped that this year would finally allow us to emerge from the nightmare of furloughs. Today, it feels like it’s knocking on our door again.»
Another worker sums up the general sentiment: «We’re very worried. A fourth week of shutdown has been announced for the summer. A situation like this would never happen with a product that actually sells. » For many employees, the lack of ramp-up is the main problem. When a new model is launched, factories typically operate with overtime and Saturday shifts. At Mirafiori, exactly the opposite is happening.”.
Young Temporary Workers Face Uncertainty
Concerns center particularly on the many temporary workers hired in recent months. Several contracts are set to expire at the end of July, and no one knows whether they will be renewed. One young employee explains that he had already anticipated this possibility when he was hired. «I know how the job market works these days. If things don’t work out here, I’ll have to find something else.»
Others are even more fatalistic. «We’re all worried because jobs are hard to come by,» explains a temporary worker. «We’re afraid there will be another round of furloughs.»
Even the longest-tenured employees share this sentiment. One employee who has been with the company for nearly thirty years believes that the factory has «changed a lot—mostly for the worse.» Another, who is about to retire, says he is especially concerned for the younger generations. «I’ll be retiring soon. But when it comes to the young people, yes, I’m very concerned.»
«Without another model, this won't be enough»
The message that comes up most often in the testimonials is that of a second model. For many employees, the Fiat 500 Hybrid alone cannot secure Mirafiori’s future. «Without another model, the young people who have just been hired won’t be able to stay on.»
Some go even further. One employee says the drop in production volumes comes as no surprise: «When the new Fiat 500 came out, we thought we’d be producing a lot. But the reality is that volumes are constantly falling. There are no new models here. » One of them goes so far as to mention the risk of a gradual closure of the plant: «It’s a matter of math. In five years, a large part of my generation will be gone.»
The unions are now calling for an urgent meeting with Stellantis to get answers regarding hiring, production volumes, and industrial plans for Mirafiori. Because behind the sales figures and production targets, it is above all the future of several hundred young employees that is currently causing concern among workers at the Fiat 500 plant.
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Who's surprised?
Tavares did everything he could to kill off the 500 and replace the rest of the lineup with rebadged Peugeots. Obviously, Italian production is suffering. How could it be any other way?
My personal opinion is that the 500 quickly became outdated in terms of battery life (range) and failed to offer a competitive range-to-price ratio. The hybrid powertrain is making a comeback, but ultimately, for €20,000 in the A-segment, customers are paradoxically turning… toward electric vehicles. The 500 needs to make a comeback with either a true hybrid (capable of truly driving 100 % on electric power) or a truly competitive 100 % all-electric version (with a larger, less expensive battery).