A twist in the automotive world: Stellantis, the world’s fourth largest automobile manufacturer, announced that Turin will become the new headquarters of its European region from January 2025. A major step back in the history of the group, merger between PSA and Fiat Chrysler, and a clear break with the Tavarès era which has just ended suddenly.
Turin: a return to basics for Fiat and a key step for Stellantis
Turin, the historic birthplace of Fiat, is much more than a symbol for Stellantis. By choosing this city to establish its European headquarters, the group is reconnecting with a territory deeply rooted in Italian innovation and the automotive industry. The Mirafiori factory, Fiat’s flagship for decades, is not only a monument to the past: it is also the laboratory for a future centered on the energy transition.
Turin’s new role goes well beyond a simple administrative move. This decision positions the city as a technological and strategic epicenter, reinforced by two major infrastructures: the SUSTAINera recycling center, dedicated to the circular economy, and the unique Battery Technology Center, where Stellantis develops and tests its battery technologies.
The reconfiguration of the European automobile industry is confirmed
The transfer of headquarters takes place in a context where the automobile industry is in full reconfiguration. The rise of electric vehicles, European legislative pressure for drastic reductions in CO₂ emissions, and the rise of competitors like Tesla and Renault, are forcing Stellantis to rethink its model. Turin then appears as a strategic point of convergence, offering proximity to its Italian industrial facilities and flexibility to coordinate its European activities.
But this choice does not respond solely to logistical or symbolic considerations. By anchoring its European headquarters in Turin, Stellantis is sending a clear signal: Europe is a key market, and Italy remains a central pillar of its strategy. This positioning is reinforced by a massive commitment: Stellantis will invest 2 billion euros in its Italian factories by 2025, and a further 6 billion in its local supply chain.
Mirafiori: a factory at the heart of innovation
The Mirafiori site in Turin is one of the group’s industrial jewels. Once a symbol of mass production, this is where the Fiat 500 came from, the price of which was initially set to be equal to the annual salary of a worker, it is today transformed into a technology hub advances. With the Italy PlanStellantis plans to make this factory a center of excellence for the production of electric and hybrid vehicles.
From 2025, Mirafiori will produce the new generation of the Fiat 500 electric (BEV) as well as a hybrid version, a first for this iconic model. These choices are not trivial. The Fiat 500 embodies the history of Fiat, but it is also the symbol of its renewal in a market dominated by innovation. By focusing on massive electrification, Stellantis is showing its desire to remain competitive against players like Tesla, who have taken a head start in this segment.
At the same time, Mirafiori will continue to manufacture critical components, such as eDCT electric transmissions, which play a key role in the group’s technological diversification.
An economic and social ambition for Italy
Stellantis’ “Piano Italia” is not limited to investments in infrastructure. It is also about preserving jobs and supporting local skills. The group announced that it would maintain activities in all its Italian factories, while undertaking significant efforts to train and retrain its employees. Unlike many competitors, Stellantis has chosen to finance these transformations without resorting to public subsidies. This choice demonstrates strong confidence in its ability to generate internal resources, but it is also a question of displaying independence vis-à-vis an Italian government with which relations remain tense.
A post-Tavares strategic break?
The departure of Carlos Tavares, architect of the merger between PSA and Fiat Chrysler, coincides with this strategic turning point. Under his leadership, the group focused on cost reduction and brand integration, with headquarters based in the Netherlands for tax reasons. The return to Italy, which marks a new geographical and industrial orientation, seems to embody a break with the previous approach. The return of Stellantis to Turin could also be interpreted as a desire by the Agnelli family, historically owners of Fiat, to regain control of the group while Carlos Tavarès, who came from PSA, seemed to favor France.
By focusing on Turin and investing in cutting-edge technologies, Stellantis has a clear ambition: to remain at the forefront of the automotive industry while actively contributing to the ecological transition. This repositioning is also a message addressed to consumers, investors and industrial partners. It reflects a desire to adapt to market requirements while remaining faithful to its identity. Turin, which was once the symbol of European automobiles, could well once again become the beating heart of an industry in full renaissance.
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