Italy is making big moves in the auto industry, and it’s paying off. Talks with Stellantis, the company that owns Fiat and Jeep, have led to plans to build new hybrid models in Italy. Fiat wants to expand beyond its electric Fiat 500e, so they’re planning to make a hybrid version at their Mirafiori plant.
Also, they’re looking to build a hybrid Jeep Compass at the Melfi plant. Stellantis, the big car company behind Fiat and Jeep, knows Italy is important, so they’re investing in making cars there to create jobs and make good cars for Italian people.
Stellantis talked with union leaders to show they’re serious about making cars in Italy. They want to make affordable and good cars for Italians. The Mirafiori plant already makes the Fiat 500e, and by adding a hybrid version, Fiat hopes to sell even more cars, maybe up to 200,000 Fiat 500s a year.
With the hybrid Jeep Compass at the Melfi plant, Stellantis could make a million cars in Italy every year by 2030. Right now, they’re not planning to sell these hybrid models in the US, but that could change.
Italy is serious about cars being made in Italy. Recently, they stopped Alfa Romeo from naming their new SUV after an Italian place because it was made in Poland, not Italy.
Also, they stopped Fiat Topolino cars at the port because they had Italian flags, making people think they were made in Italy when they weren’t. Italy wants to make sure if something says “Italian,” it’s really made in Italy.
