Fiat says it is losing production of more than 4,000 vehicles per day as Italy’s devastating industrial action by truck drivers continues to choke the country’s supply lines.
Lorry drivers are protesting against a raft of tough austerity measures introduced by the Italian government as it seeks to cut the country’s ruinous debt mountain, including higher fuel, insurance and toll fees.
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But the mass action, that has also spread to airports, railways and taxi services, has crippled Fiat’s ability to receive components at its Mirafiori, Cassino and Melfi plants, although the factory at Pomigliano D’Arco has just started work again after some parts deliveries managed to beat the blockade.
“Every day we lose 4,200 cars,” a Fiat spokeswoman in Italy told just-auto. “[The] Pomigliano d’Arco plant restarted production this afternoon (27 January) – the other plants are shut.
“The strike is still on but some trucks have a chance to arrive at Pomigliano. They say the strike will end today but we have no news at the moment.”
Reports in Italy suggest more than 100,000t of fruit, vegetables, milk and flowers have had to be destroyed as the devastating impact of the lorry drivers action bites into the country’s supply chain, while petrol stations have also been forced to shut.
Fiat does not normally work weekends, but the Fiat spokeswoman expressed hope production could restart on Monday, adding more information might be made available later this afternoon.
