Italy's premier slams Stellantis over reduced Italian footprint since Peugeot-FiatChrysler tie-up

abcnews.go.com:

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni is slamming carmaker Stellantis, accusing it of weakening Italy’s industrial footprint since the merger of FiatChrysler and Peugeot that created the world’s fourth largest auto maker

MILAN — Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni slammed carmaker Stellantis, accusing it of weakening Italy’s industrial footprint since the merger of FiatChrysler and PSA Peugeot that created the world’s fourth largest auto maker.

As one of Italy’s top private sector employers, Fiat and its successors, FiatChrysler and then Stellantis, have always gotten government attention, but rarely have premiers been so pointed in their comments. Meloni also characterized the merger that created Stellantis in 2021 as a French takeover.

“We want to return to making 1 million vehicles a year with whomever wants to invest in the historic Italian excellence,’’ she said in a speech to parliament Wednesday.

Meloni cited figures that motor vehicle production in Italy had dropped from 1 million in 2017 to under 700,000 in 2022 and that Stellantis had slashed 7,000 jobs since the merger.

“If you want to sell cars on the international market advertised as Italian jewels then these cars need to be produced in Italy,'' Meloni said.

Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares, who was visiting a plant in Abruzzo, told reporters that he didn’t think the company's Italian workers would appreciate Meloni’s characterizations.

“We have more than 40,000 workers in Italy who work very hard to adapt the company to the new reality, as decided by politicians, and they are full of talent,’’ he said.

The carmaker said production in Italy grew by nearly 10% last year to 752,000 vehicles, two-thirds of which were exported, “contributing to the Italian trade balance.”