Stellantis: the gigafactory in Termoli announced in early February it will do. The automotive group – we read in a note – supports “the growth plans of the Automotive Cells Company, which intends to transform the current Stellantis plant in Termoli into a new plant dedicated to the production of batteries”. It will be the third European giga-factory and will have a production capacity of 40 GW, the same as the plants already active in France and Germany.
A new partner arrives: Mercedes-Benz
In addition, an agreement was concluded to “add Mercedes-Benz as a new equal partner with TotalEnergies/Saft e stellantis” in the capital of Acc, the joint venture that was founded in August 2020 by the French and Italian-American group.
New investment for a third factory in Termoli
The agreement also provides for a new investment in Italy, with a third production site in Termoli. The partners then pledged to increase ACC's industrial capacity to at least 120 gigawatt hours (GWh) by 2030 and to scale up the development and production of next-generation high-performance battery cells and modules.
The signing of the protocol with the Mise arrives
The last missing piece arrived on March 23 with the go-ahead for the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Economic Development, the Molise Region, Invitalia and ACC. The protocol is aimed at supporting the implementation of the investments proposed by ACC to build the new gigafactory at the FCA plant in Termoli for the production of battery cells and modules for the automotive sector. The president of the Molise Region Donato Toma announced the signing which should be formalized within the day.
Electric car: Stellantis' goals
As part of the Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan, Stellantis has announced plans to implement globally sales of battery electric vehicles (Bev) for five million units in 2030, reaching 100% of the passenger car sales mix in Europe and 50% of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in the United States with BEVs. The company also increased its planned battery capacity from 140 GWh to approximately 400 GWh, supported by five gigafactories and additional supply contracts.
Stellantis, Tavares: the gigafactory of Termoli ensures the future of the factory
“We are grateful to everyone involved in this investment which will secure the future of the greater community of Termoli,” he said. Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis – Transforming the existing plant to contribute to the creation of a more sustainable future positions ACC as a European leader in battery production and reaffirms, thanks to the collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Development, Italy's role in supporting the transformation of Stellantis into a technology company dedicated to sustainable mobility”.
The reaction of the unions
Fiom-Cgil: strategic investment in batteries with gigafactory Termoli
As for the unions, the Fiom "he considers the investment in the production of batteries in our country to be positive and strategic - write in a joint note Michele De Palma, national secretary and automotive manager, and Simone Marinelli, national automotive coordinator - The company communicated that the managing director will shortly meet the national trade union organizations: it is necessary to start a discussion on the industrial level, on the production missions and on the activities of the factories and staff bodies to gradually bring the plants and knowledge of the research and development centers back to full use and safeguard female workers and the workers”.
Fim-Cisl: gigafactory Termoli concrete result for workers
"The confirmation of the investment is a concrete and positive result for our country and for the Stellantis group plants because it not only builds a reindustrialization path for an engine factory, but it secures and strengthens the presence of the Stellantis plants in Italy". The national secretary said so Fim Cisl, Ferdinand Ulianus. "Stellantis also informed us that the same contract already present in the group will be applied to the workers involved in the giga factory project - added the trade unionist - The Fim Cisl has asked the company for details of the plan regarding the implementation times, the levels employment absorbed and professional training plans together with all the other aspects linked to this important investment. The company has told us that they will be the subject of a forthcoming meeting”.
Uilm: Termoli gigafactory essential for the auto industry
"The gigafactory is very important news not only for the workers of Termoli, but for the entire Italian automotive sector - said Rocco Palombella, general secretary of the Uilm, and Gianluca Ficco, national secretary in charge of the union's automotive sector – It is a fundamental step in adapting the Italian production chain towards the electrification process that the European Union is imposing with its regulations”.
