Stellantis extends by one more week production stoppage for Fiat 500

Stellantis Extends Fiat 500 Production Halt in Turin Due to Chip Shortage

Production Stoppage at Fiat 500 Factory in Turin

ROME, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Stellantis will extend to the whole of next week the current production stoppage at its Fiat 500 factory in Turin, northern Italy, the Franco-Italian automaker and the FIOM trade union said on Thursday.

Timeline and Duration of the Halt

• The November 9-13 extension marks the fourth consecutive week of no production at the historic Mirafiori plant

Causes of the Production Stoppage

• The first two weeks, which began in mid-October, were caused by weak demand, a Stellantis spokesperson said

• The shutdown for this and next week is linked to a shortage of electronic components, specifically chips used in engine control units, the spokesperson added

Union Perspectives and Ongoing Issues

• Union officials have pointed at weak demand for the Fiat 500 city car as the continuing reason for the stoppage

• Gianni Mannori of the FIOM metalworkers' union said that blaming the shortage of components was "an alibi"

Impact on Production and Models Affected

• Last week Stellantis said the shortage in engine control units was causing "significant" disruption to the Italian production of the Fiat 500 and Fiat Pandina models

Reporting and Editorial Credits

(Reporting by Francesca Piscioneri, editing by Alvise Armellini)