Stellantis announced plans on Monday to manufacture dual-clutch transmissions for hybrid vehicles at its Termoli plant in Southern Italy, even as the site remains part of a joint venture’s broader assessment for an electric vehicle battery production hub.
The Termoli facility, which currently produces engines, is one of three European locations where the Stellantis-led joint venture, Automotive Cells Company (ACC), has proposed building EV battery gigafactories. While production has already started at a facility in France, plans for similar plants in Italy and Germany were put on hold last year as ACC shifted focus to lower-cost batteries amid slowing EV demand.
See also: Stellantis Files Patent for Exhaust System Aimed at Enhancing EV Battery Safety
A spokesperson for ACC, which is jointly owned by Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz, and TotalEnergies, said investment decisions for the Italian and German sites are still under review and are expected later this year, but not before June. The spokesperson also noted that Stellantis’ latest announcement does not alter the status of ACC’s plans for Termoli.
Earlier this month, the CEO of TotalEnergies, which holds a 25% stake in ACC, indicated that the venture should prioritize operations at its French facility, raising the possibility that plans for the Italian and German gigafactories could be abandoned.
See also: Stellantis Reportedly Exploring BYD Batteries for Sub-€20,000 Electric Cars
Stellantis stated that it will begin producing electrified dual-clutch transmissions (eDCTs) at Termoli in 2026, with an annual target of 300,000 units. This would make Termoli the automaker’s third eDCT production hub, alongside its existing facilities in Mirafiori, Italy, and Metz, France. The company also plans to expand component production to support increased eDCT output at its plants in Sint-Truiden, Belgium, and Metz, where a new assembly line will be installed.
Italy’s major metalworker unions welcomed the decision, noting that eDCT production would provide jobs for around 300 of the 1,800 workers at Termoli. However, labor representatives emphasized the need for long-term strategic decisions regarding the plant’s future, including clarity on the gigafactory project.
See also: Stellantis Trademarks Fulvia Name Amid Lancia’s Renaissance, Sparking Hope for New Electric Model
Stellantis, the world’s fourth-largest automaker, is also pursuing a separate venture with Chinese battery manufacturer CATL to build a €4.1 billion ($4.3 billion) gigafactory in Spain.