FCA Will Temporarily Lay Off 3,245 Workers In Italy As Maserati Levante Sales Drop

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is getting ready to restructure the Mirafiori plant in Turin, Italy, at the temporary expense of approximately 3,245 blue- and white-collar workers.

Unions were already informed about the decision on Tuesday, reports AutoNews, which will be effective on January 1, 2019, when 2,445 employees will be sent home, followed by another 800 or so by March 4.

The news outlet says the layoffs will last until December 31, 2019, and during this time, employees will receive reduced salaries, coming from a program funded by FCA and the Italian government.

Also Read: FCA To Build More Jeeps, New Alfa Romeo SUV And Maserati Alfieri In Italy

Workers will also attend training for electric and hybrid powertrain technologies, as the Mirafiori plant is getting ready for EV production in 2020, when the next-gen Fiat 500e will be assembled at the site.

Home to roughly 5,000 employees, the Mirafiori facility is Fiat’s oldest factory in Italy and has been under-utilized since the 2008/2009 global recession. This is where the Punto, first-gen Panda and Alfa Romeo MiTo used to come to life, but the only vehicle still in assembly there is the Maserati Levante.

Sales of the Trident’s first-ever SUV fell by 24 percent in the first 10 months of the year in Europe to 3,777, while in the United States, they dropped by 14 percent, to 4,205 units.

FCA will continue to assemble the Maserati Levante at Mirafiori during the temporary layoffs, with employees reportedly taking turns in going into the factory and staying at home.