Stellantis is trying to restart Italian production., But the the restart remains fragile and unevenAccording to the first half-year 2026 report of Fim-Cisl, from the Italian factories of the group are 252.223 vehicles left between cars and commercial vehicles, the 13,7% more compared to the same period in 2025, when the lowest production level in decades had been reached. It is a recovery signalor after the slump of recent years, but not yet a turning point. Production is growing mainly thanks to Mirafiori and Melfi, supported by the hybrid 500 and the new Jeep Compass, while the target of 1 million vehicles indicated in the ministerial tables remains very distant. the most critical point continues to be Cassino, where volumes are still falling and the industrial situation is becoming increasingly delicate.
Meanwhile, caution remains on the market. Yesterday, Stellantis shares came under renewed pressure on the Milan Stock Exchange following HSBC's downgrade, confirming analysts' doubts about the strength of the recovery. But the key issue for Italy remains industrial: whether the rebound in volumes will be sufficient to provide stable prospects for its factories and related industries.
Production recovering, but the million mark remains far away
A The main drivers of recovery are cars, up 27,7% to 158.193 units. The commercial vehicle sector, however, was weaker, declining 4% to 94.030 units, although still at levels considered significant.
For Ferdinando Uliano, general secretary of the Fim-Cisl, the data marks a turning point compared to the previous two years. The recovery in volumes, he explained, "represents a reversal of the trend compared to the last two negative years during which production almost halved compared to 2023." However, the union dampens enthusiasm“However, we are far from the goal of reaching 1 million vehicles, as stated in the ministerial discussions.”
La the forecast for the whole of 2026 is in fact much more cautiousThe FIM-CISL estimates production of around 300 vehicles overall, with passenger cars accounting for over 500. The year's production is expected to be driven by the 500 hybrid, the new Jeep Compass, and the DS8, which will be joined by the DS7 and Lancia Gamma. This represents a step forward compared to 2025, but still not enough to restore Stellantis's performance in Italy to pre-crisis levels.
Mirafiori and Melfi push, Pomigliano holds
Il production recovery mainly comes from Mirafiori and MelfiThe Turin plant closed the first half of the year with 36.048 units produced, in growth of 135,4% compared to 15.315 in the same period in 2025. This result is linked to the two versions of the new 500, electric and hybrid. According to Uliano, the launch of the hybrid 500 "represents a concrete result of the union actions implemented and is a fundamental element for maintaining the Mirafiori production mission."
The improvement led to the inclusion of 600 new resources in February and the start of the second shift in March, with a gradual elimination of the redundancy fund. However, it remains difficult to hit the target Stellantis has indicated a production volume of approximately 100 vehicles for 2026. For the FIM-CISL, looking at production for the first half of the year, a figure of around 80 units seems more realistic. Hence the request to strengthen the plant's mission, as Mirafiori cannot rely on a single model for long.
In MelfiThe new Jeep Compass, however, boosted volumes. Production rose to 35.920 units, compared to 19.070 in the first half of 2025, an increase of 88,4%. The union emphasizes that the multi-energy models have had a positive impact on volumes, although the comparison with the past remains harsh: in the first half of 2019, the plant produced more than 152 units.
Pomigliano d'Arco remains the group's main automotive hub in Italy, with 79.050 units produced, essentially in line with 2025. The Panda grew by 5% to 70.820 units, while the Alfa Romeo Tonale fell by 18,6% to 8.230 units. Production of the Dodge Hornet for the North American market has been halted for about a year. In Atessa, the leading Italian production site in terms of overall volumes, commercial vehicles fell by 4% to 94.030 units, also due to adjustments related to the new paint job.
Cassino remains the most difficult case
In the context of general recovery, Cassino remains the most serious exceptionIn the first half of the year, production fell to 6.700 unit, with a decrease of 36,2%. In detail, the Lazio plant has produced 4.125 units between Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio and 2.575 Maserati Grecale. For Uliano, "this figure highlights the dramatic situation of the plant's production." The industrial situation is also reflected in theoccupationEmployees have fallen to around 2.130 and production activity has been reduced to 5-6 working days per month. In the first six months of 2026, only 39 days were worked. Estimates for the entire year indicate a further decline towards the 13 unit mark, after a 2025 closed with less than 20 cars.
The union speaks of a condition now unsustainable for the site and related industries. The outlook depends on the plans for Maserati and Alfa Romeo, but definitive answers have been postponed. "At the union meeting, we expected more concrete answers regarding Cassino and the Maserati and Alfa Romeo projects. A delay of even a few months is extremely burdensome given the extremely low production levels," said Uliano. For now, a special series of Stelvio and Giulia models has been confirmed until the end of 2027, along with the arrival of the new Maserati Grecale in 2027, but for the FIM-CISL, this isn't enough.
Termoli also remains a delicate front. The decision of stop investing in the battery gigafactory is defined by the union as "a negative fact". The request is to guarantee employment protections for approximately 1.800 direct workers and assign new activities, while also keeping open a possible future perspective on batteries when the demand for electric vehicles starts to grow again.
A restart yet to be consolidated
The growth in the first half of the year marks a change of pace compared to 2025, but it does not close the gap on the industrial future of the group in Italy. Fim-Cisl positively evaluates some commitments hired by Stellantis, starting from the absence of factories at risk of closure, the 80% saturation of production, the 5 billion investment in research and development planned for the period 2026-2030 and the approximately 300 hires in the engineering areas in the two-year period 2025-2026.
However, several open issues remain.Cassino awaits more concrete answers on the plans for Maserati and Alfa Romeo, Termoli must contend with the halt to its battery gigafactory project, and Mirafiori remains committed to strengthening its production mission. For the union, the improvement in volumes is an important sign, but it alone is not enough to guarantee job security and the revitalization of the supply chain.
The topic also concerns the European frameworkFor Uliano, the automotive crisis cannot be addressed with regulatory tools alone, but requires a broader industrial strategy, supported by incentives, adequate resources, and measures to reduce energy costs. The union also believes the Italian government must do its part to support the sector and its related industries, moving beyond the rationale of cutting the Automotive Fund.
In the meantime, Stellantis tries to reassure the European supply chainAt the Europe Supplier Convention in Paris, Emanuele Cappellano, COO Enlarged Europe & European Brands and Head of Stellantis Pro One, spoke about a fdecisive step for the continent"Success depends on our ability to execute together. Our suppliers are essential partners in this journey," he said, citing quality, innovation, and competitiveness as levers for strengthening the group's position.
