Marelli has paused plans to close its Crevalcore plant in Italy, saying it had asked an adviser to seek potential buyers for the site, Reuters reported.

Closure would affect 230 jobs.

The supplier announced last month its intention to close the facility which produces components for internal combustion engines (ICEs).

Marelli said the facility had become “unsustainable” due to the switch to EVs.

The company said it had agreed “to find a solution that will ensure the industrial and employment continuity of the Crevalcore site” after a meeting with Italy’s industry and labour ministries, trade unions and a representative for the Emilia Romagna region.

Reuters noted Marelli did not withdraw its plan to end operations but the decision has given parties involved more time to avoid closure.

The closure was expected to happen around the end of this year.

“We wanted a complete and full withdrawal of the closure procedure,” Gianluca Ficco of the UILM union said, adding the temporary suspension allows unions “to start a discussion”.

Talks were scheduled to continue on 8 November.