Stellantis prolongs stoppage of Fiat 500 plant, unions say

ROME, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Stellantis' historic Mirafiori plant in northern Italy, which makes the Fiat 500 city car, will remain shut next week, extending a production halt into a fifth week, unions said on Thursday. 

• FIOM-CGIL, FIM-CISL and UILM said workers assigned to the Fiat 500 production lines will remain on furlough during November 16-20, while some other activities, including Special Vehicle, RG Premium and Maserati-related operations, will continue

• Igor Albera, from the FIM-CISL union, told Reuters that the prolonged production stoppages at the Turin plant were due in part to component shortages and in part to weak demand for the model

• Albera told Reuters that a report by MF newspaper saying that Mirafiori was expected to reopen for only two weeks before year-end, and produce just above 50,000 cars in 2026, was credible

• "A two-week production run between now and the end of this year is more than enough to cover the current order book for the Fiat 500, both hybrid and electric," he said

• A Stellantis spokesperson said temporary stoppages at some Italian plants linked to a supplier shortage of a component for the N3 GSE engine control unit could continue through November and December, with production schedules being assessed on a week-by-week basis while the group works to restore normal operations

• Unions said the latest stoppage in Turin confirmed "a situation of strong production and employment uncertainty" and warned employees were increasingly struggling with repeated periods of temporary lay-offs

(Reporting by Giulio Piovaccari, writing by Giulia Segreti and Alvise Armellini; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)