Stellantis will not close Italian plants, country key to future plans, Europe chief says

MILAN, June 15 (Reuters) - Stellantis does not plan to close any plants in Italy as each facility in the country is earmarked to play a specific role in the automaker's industrial plan, its Europe chief Emanuele Cappellano told unions on Monday.

Cappellano met unions in Rome to present details of the new business plan the automaker launched last month, ahead of a hearing of Chief Executive Antonio Filosa at the Italian parliament on Wednesday.

• Italy has a key role within Stellantis' new business plan, Cappellano was quoted as saying by a spokesman

• He said the group is getting encouraging signs in Italy of rising demand, market share and production as well as reduced furloughs in several plants

• The Pomigliano plant will have a focus on affordable electric vehicles, while Mirafiori on industrial innovation and small cars, he said. Melfi, Cassino and Modena will support offerings of premium and luxury vehicles

• Atessa is confirmed as a key spot for light commercial vehicles

• Cappellano said current plans for Italy mark a natural and more ambitious evolution of a previous plan for the country that the automaker presented to the Italian government in late 2024, before Filosa became CEO

• Commitments set out in Stellantis' 2024 plan for Italy have been met and, in many cases, exceeded under the new business plan, Cappellano told unions

(Reporting by Giulio PiovaccariEditing by Keith Weir)