While we've been closely examining Stellantis' performance—or lack thereof—in the United States, the question arises: how is the company faring in Europe? Unfortunately, the situation mirrors that of North America, with performance not being particularly stellar. Deliveries in the third quarter of the year dropped by 17%. Adding to the woes, production of another vehicle will be temporarily halted due to sluggish demand. The aging Panda, assembled at the Pomigliano d'Arco factory in Italy, will see a production break for several days next month. According to Italian news agency Ansa, Stellantis informed unions that these measures are essential to align production with current market conditions and to ensure efficient resource management. In essence, the Panda isn't meeting sales expectations.
The Termoli and Pratola Serra engine factories in Italy will also experience temporary shutdowns for a few days in November. The third-generation Panda, one of the oldest cars on sale in Europe, has been in production since 2011. Despite its age, it will continue to be sold until 2027, coexisting with the Grande Panda, which offers electric and mild-hybrid powertrains. This makes it one of the few new Fiat products available in Europe, alongside the revived 600 model.
This decision to pause production follows a similar move by Stellantis for another Fiat model, the electric 500. The city-focused EV, manufactured at the Mirafiori plant, was initially scheduled for a four-week break but has now been extended until November 1. The latest iteration of the 500 is exclusively electric, but this will change. A gasoline engine is planned for the small hatchback as part of a hybrid powertrain set to debut in early 2026. Reuters reports that Stellantis aims to "ensure the continuity" of its Italian factories. However, the company acknowledges a challenging future that necessitates difficult decisions and offers no simple solutions.
