Workers in Italy’s automotive sector are staging a national strike for the first time in two decades, with a significant demonstration taking place in Rome. The strike, organized by the sector’s three main unions, is occurring amidst escalating tensions between global automaker Stellantis and the Italian far-right government. The government has accused Stellantis of moving assembly plants to countries with lower production costs.
Stellantis, the world’s fourth-largest automaker, is facing mounting pressure to clarify its future production plans as it grapples with increased competition and financial challenges. Formed in 2021 from the merger of Fiat-Chrysler and PSA Peugeot, the multinational group experienced a substantial decline in output at most of its Italian plants in the first half of 2024. Over the past 17 years, the company has reduced its Italian production by nearly 70%.
