Stellantis, the multinational automotive company formed from the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and PSA Group, is reportedly shifting its focus to Morocco for future investments. According to La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno, while Stellantis is halving production capacity at its Melfi plant in Italy and the associated component supply chain, it is simultaneously doubling production capacity at its Kenitra plant in Morocco. Italian Senator Carlo Calenda claims to have a letter sent by Stellantis to Italian suppliers, inviting them to a two-day meeting in Rabat this November and promoting the advantages of Morocco's automotive industry. Confindustria Basilicata, the employers' federation in the Basilicata region of Italy, expressed concerns that Stellantis has invested around 300 million euros in Morocco to increase production from 200,000 to 400,000 vehicles per year. Francesco Somma, president of Confindustria Basilicata, highlighted the worrying situation in the automotive sector in the region, with only about 50% of suppliers in the Melfi supply chain having acquired orders for new vehicles to be produced there. Trade unions and the mayor of Melfi, Giuseppe Maglione, share these concerns, emphasizing the need to reconsider choices related to electric vehicles and the potential for significant job losses.
