Alexandre
During the Rimini meeting, Italy's Minister for Enterprise and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, issued a scathing warning to the Stellantis group. In front of an attentive audience, he stressed the crucial importance of the Termoli gigafactory for the future of the Italian automotive industry, while highlighting the government's disappointment at the progress made by Stellantis.
Rome and Stellantis clash again
This time, the heart of the dispute lies in the realization of the the ACC gigafactory in Termolian ambitious battery manufacturing project led by Stellantis in collaboration with Mercedes and Saft, a subsidiary of Total Energies. The project, part of a €7 billion European plan, represents an investment of 400 million euros for Italywith a state guarantee provided by SACE. However, according to Urso, Stellantis has been slow to honor its commitments, putting the future of this initiative in doubt.
During his speech, Urso didn't mince his words: "The government has done its part, but Stellantis hasn't." He firmly stated that if Stellantis did not respond quickly and positively to expectations regarding the Termoli gigafactory, the NRRP (National Recovery and Resilience Plan) funds earmarked for this project would be reallocated. This statement was seen as a real ultimatum by many observers, especially as the Minister raised the possibility of attracting Chinese automakers to fill the gap left by Stellantis.
International competition in the background
The Italian government's threat to divert funds to other players, including Chinese manufacturers, is not to be taken lightly. Urso stressed that Italy could not rely on a single automotive company to meet national demand.The Minister expressed his support for the idea of bringing in another producer to boost annual production to at least one and a half million vehicles. The Minister revealed that the government had already signed four memorandums with major Chinese manufacturers, keen to invest in Europe and contribute to electric mobility in Italy.
Stellantis' answer
For its part, Stellantis responded with a statement, calling for the collaboration of all stakeholders to create the conditions necessary for market competitiveness and stability. The automaker stressed the importance of collective cooperation for a successful transition to electric mobility, while reaffirming its commitment to pursuing the plan for Italy, including projects such as " Mirafiori 2030" . However, the group's statement suggests that the realization of the Termoli gigafactory depends on the evolution of European Union policy on the electric transition and technological advances in batteries.
When will Scrooge (the worst automotive executive in history) and his gang leave the company?
I don't understand why the Italian state insists on helping a group like Stellantis. We Italians have already invested billions in the Fiat, FCA and Stellantis groups, only to see car production here melt away like snow in the sun. If they want money, then in exchange they have to give the historic brands back to the Italians, who are dying. Or else we produce Italian cars in Italy!
For me it's my opinion, I don't want to contradict you, I think the Germans want to take over the Fiat group and PSA like they took over Bentley, Rolls-Royce and Lamborghini.