The Stellantis plant that produces the Alfa Romeo Giulia and the Maserati Grecale only worked 4 days in January... and nobody knows when that's going to change.

The Italian automotive industry is going through a difficult period, but some sites embody the difficulties of the moment more than others. Such is the case of the Stellantis plant in Cassino, which over the years has become a worrying symbol of the Group's industrial slowdown in Italy. In January 2026, the plant operated... for just four days. A situation which, according to Uilm General Secretary Rocco Palombella, «reassures no-one». And with good reason: more than six weeks after the Christmas holidays, activity has still not really resumed.

Cassino, the chronically ill Italian carmaker

The problem goes far beyond a temporary slowdown. All of Stellantis' Italian automotive production has already fallen in 2025 to 379,706 vehicles, This is still 20 % less than 2024, an already catastrophic year with volumes at their lowest level since 1956.

But Cassino does worse. The plant has been accumulating stoppages for years, and in 2025 experienced 105 days of downtime. In fact, according to the local press, the plant sometimes makes more news when it opens than when it closes. In total, only 19,000 cars were produced here in 2025. In 2017, this figure exceeded 135,000 units.

Giulia, Stelvio and Grecale produced in slow motion

Cassino still assembles strategic models: the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio, and the Maserati Grecale. But the pace is nothing like it used to be. The Giulia and Stelvio account for around three-quarters of production, with 14,378 units, while the Grecale remains below the 5,000 mark. The electric version of Maserati's SUV barely exceeds 4 % of volumes.

For 2026, some estimates already point to an even lower level: only around 13,000 vehicles over the year.

Postponement of new Alfa Romeo models puts everything on hold

The main cause of this paralysis has now been identified: the postponement of the new generations of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio and Giulia. Initially expected at the end of 2025, the models have been pushed back by around three years. The aim is to broaden the range of powertrains and not just offer 100 % electrics. But in the meantime, Cassino finds itself without a real industrial plan. The result: as of February 21, no concrete restart has been announced. The local press is even talking about an extended «forced vacation».

Subcontractors begin to pay the price

The crisis has now spread beyond the plant itself. The entire industrial ecosystem around Cassino is affected. Forty-five employees of subcontracting companies are risking their jobs. If no guarantee is given by April 30 that orders will continue, the redundancies could become definitive after the statutory 75-day procedure.

Hope now rests on one date: May 21, 2026. At the Investor Day, new CEO Antonio Filosa is due to present the first post-Tavares industrial plan. Investments in Italy will be detailed, and Cassino hopes to finally know its future. Today, the plant seems to be stuck in an interminable Christmas pause.