Italian workers have entered anger through Stellantis’s investments. Those who have taken Morocco, specifically

Stellantis will invest in Morocco. A lot (very much) money. And that will have consequences in your investments in Europe. Especially in Italy where they aspired to see an approach of the company after the departure of Carlos Tavares. Now workers and politicians see how they will continue to vain in favor of North Africa.

1.2 billion. That is the Investment announced by Stellantis For Morocco. 1.2 billion euros that will be distributed in the country to expand the productive capacity of its plant in Kenitra, Morocco, to 535,000 cars per year. That means putting the country’s factory At the height of Vigo’sone of the company’s historical (before PSA).

In recent years, Stellantis investments in Morocco have been constant. In fact, the company He began his journey on Moroccan soil in 2019 And in 2020 I was manufacturing just over 200,000 units. In 2030, the forecast is to exceed those more than half a million vehicles produced.

Cheap. Stellantis’s intention has been, so far, of factories cheap options for the local market and its expansion by Europe. With the new agreement, the company has also announced that will manufacture hybrid engines in Africaa way to lower its offer of electrified vehicles. Later the known as Smart Car will arrive.

This motorist production and three -wheel vehicles will be added to the current production of light grids. The company produces in Morocco Citroën Ami either Fiat Topolino. The latter were reason for controversy to include a flag of Italy which prevented its sale in the country Transalpino because the use of it is limited to products manufactured within its borders.

A constant fight. This was just another episode of the open war between Stellantis and Italy. The automobile group It has Italian companies that historically they have had a great weight in the country: Fiat or Alfa Romeo, but also Lancia, Maserati or Abarth, who was born as the sports division of the first of them.

Despite this, Stellantis has leaving aside the production of cars in the country. In recent years their layoffs have been famous in Italy and in 2024 the trend was confirmed: 70 years ago that Italian brands in possession of Stellantis did not produce so few cars in the country.

The reasons are varied but are distributed between high productive costs and the way to get into the European emission rules. An effort that the company based on fuelmake more electrified And even Pausar Those who were not despite being the best selling. Finally, the automobile industry paws fines until 2027 with a last minute agreement.

Italian anger. The departure of Carlos Tavares seemed to give a respite to Italian workers. Or at least, the decision to put Antonio Filosa (Italian) at the head of the company was seen as an approach to a country that had gone from having Fiat as one of its flags Let’s see how your plants They entered the auction to produce Chinese cars.

Stellantis’s movement to invest more money in Morocco to the detriment of cars that could have been manufactured in Italy has raised Polvareda in the country. The toughest have been the members of the Government. In Panorama They point out that these have described the Moroccan investment as “absurd”, emphasizing that “for decades, the company has lived the money delivered by the Italian public coffers.” Of course, in the middle they qualify the “predictable” reaction.

Also Carlo Cardone, from Azione, He has claimed John Elkannpresident of Stellantis, who complies with The Italian plan That the company put on the table and of which, they point out, no results have been seen, qualifying the movement of “the nth mockery” towards the country by Stellantis. And, at the same time, Samuele Lodi, spokesman for the FIOM union, stressed that investments From Stellantis in Italy they are freezing, they point to the inactivity of the government and emphasize that the situation (with the company) the situation has not changed, but has worsened. “And it emphasizes:” It is the confirmation that they look the other way. “

Smart Car. The harsh statements from Italy take strength after knowing that Stellantis’s investment will imply giving work to 3,000 employees and that it is estimated that the economic impact in the region can exceed 6,000 million euros, taking into account the component supply network from which they have to use.

All this will be necessary to build the already mentioned light quadricycles, new three -wheeled electric vehicles and their most affordable hybrid options in the market such as the Fiat Grande Panda or the Citroën C3 whose low price must be decisive for face Chinese competition.

Morocco takes strength. All these plans strengthen the Moroccan position as an African car. To Stellantis’s plans we must add the production that Renault has in the country But, above all, the steps that are taking place in the country to position yourself as an alternative attractive to produce electric cars.

Morocco is in a key position. Its proximity to Europe allows a distribution that does not more expensive. At the same time, its commercial agreements with the European Union make it a cheap alternative to the south of them but without the economic barriers that it implies, for example, to bring cars from China. In fact, The Asian country itself is promoting investments In Morocco to try to turn the country into a bridge to Europe.

Photo | Stellantis and Jack Walker

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