Italy’s Enterprise and Made in Italy Minister, Adolfo Urso, has threatened to withhold recovery fund finance from Stellantis unless it provides answers over alleged delayed investment projects in Italy.
“It’s up to Stellantis to revive the automotive sector in Italy, and we’ve been waiting too long for an answer. The government has done its part, but Stellantis has not,” Urso told the Meeting for Friendship Among Peoples, an annual Catholic summit, held this year in the northern city of Rimini.
Urso also alleged that while the government has fulfilled its commitments, including implementing an incentive plan to boost sales, Stellantis has failed to meet a target of producing one million cars in Italy.
A further source of tension between Stellantis and Rome is a joint venture between Stellantis and Mercedes-Benz – ACC – to build a battery plant in Termoli, Italy. Work on that battery plant has reportedly been paused due to slower BEV demand in Europe.
“Stellantis must provide a response soon. If they don’t respond positively, the Recovery Fund money will be allocated elsewhere,” said Urso.
Stellantis, formed by the merger of Fiat Chrysler and PSA Group, is the last major car group manufacturing in Italy.
