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.
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I don't even understand why the plant still exists, sorry. From an industrial point of view, it's been unprofitable for over 5 years! In F or D it would have closed long ago...
Fortunately for the brand, for the past 2 years, Junior has been doing well!!!!
Well, Junior, it's not with this model that things will go well, the problem is the launch of the Stelvio / Giulia postponed because of the bad decisions of the duo Tavares and Imparato in wanting to launch these new models exclusively electric, which is a big mistake that everyone thought absurd except these two incompetents. .
Karuk
Meanwhile, the Junior saves the day at Alfa... The Tonale ran out of steam far too quickly.
I agree that all-electric cars were a huge mistake, but what if they existed today?
They're already conspicuous by their absence.
Filosa was clever enough to develop hybrid thermal versions, and I don't think we can do any better? Although I don't know if the decision came from him?
This is a step in the right direction, but it delays launches by 2 years!
Oh how ...an Alfa of Peugeot origin !!! But what did the police do (or rather, what did FCA do before ...) . But the Junior, no matter what the engine, remains at a modest level ... we're a long way from the Giulietta's scores ... where have the captive customers gone?
Hans
These are original Alfa Stellantis, not just Peugeot.
It's still better than Fiat (inferior to today's Dacia) or old Jeep chassis.
The Junior has 280 hp...How modest is that for you???
The Junior electric 280 hp as well as the 600, Ypsilon, Mokka and 208 GTi will not sell, customers do not want, it remains a car image niche. .
Karuk
OK, they're image cars, but just the existence of these models drives sales of the lambdas versions?
Well, maybe?
Yes, and the mistake was made by the Fca team and then by Stellantis, who subsequently mismanaged Maserati: the Grecale was sold at too high a price compared with Porsche, the electric Folgore version was not a success, the Levante and quattroporte were not replaced and the Ghibli was discontinued.
Karuk
Maserati sales collapsed BEFORE the Stellantis era!!!!
Even if it bothers you to know this, it's the truth. (hard?)
I did say that Maserati's strategic errors were due to Fca's mismanagement, long before Stellantis, unless you misunderstood!
Karuk
OK, sorry!
But I often hear that the fault lies with Stellantis or Tavares.
I don't understand why Maserati sales are so bad... With or without Tavares.
There are some fantastic models still out there in 2026!
Was ist nur aus meiner Marke geworden? Seit 1990 fahre ich Alfa Romeo. Mir tut es in der Seele weh, wie die Alfa Gene abgewürgt werden.
Mag sein, dass die E-Strategie nicht optimal war, aber sie hätten wenigstens aktuelle Modelle auf dem Markt. In 3 Jahren ist die Geschichte durch. Wenn die dann mit neuen Verbrennern oder Hybriden ankommen, werden die sich wundern. Dann bieten Chinesen und Koreaner Elektroautos zu Preisen und Wartungsaufwand, wo keine Verbrenner mehr mithalten. Dann können die ihren Laden dicht machen.
Joa Li
Exactly!
Unfortunately, the new and improved e3008 generation EV models don't yet exist in the Alfa, Lancia, Maserati range.
Even though that would only account for 30 % of sales? With zero new models, that's zero sales in 2026!
So it's terribly lacking!