MILAN: Stellantis may delay manufacturing of the Alfa Romeo’s Tonale SUV to subsequent 12 months to permit time to arrange the meeting line at its Pomigliano plant, in southern Italy, the top of the FIM CISL union stated on Thursday.Ferdinando Uliano stated FIM CISL was asking the corporate to satisfy its goal to start out (Tonale’s) manufacturing by the tip of this 12 months.

“However we have got indicators of a doable delay to early 2022,” he instructed a information convention on the carmaker’s manufacturing in Italy, which is underneath scrutiny for costing greater than elsewhere.

Responding to a request for remark, Stellantis stated the Tonale can be the primary milestone in Alfa Romeo’s future.”We need to be in the marketplace with essentially the most up to date electrified supply, leveraging on the Stellantis expertise and know-how. Our groups in Pomigliano are strongly working to replace the manufacturing line,” it stated.

The world’s fourth largest carmaker is striving for greater than 5 billion euros ($5.9 billion) a 12 months in financial savings following its creation from the merger of PSA Group and Fiat Chrysler earlier this 12 months.

Uliano stated Stellantis will sluggish manufacturing of the electrical model of its 500 small automotive from April 19, when working shifts at Turin’s Mirafiori plant are lowered from two to at least one, to reply to difficulties in battery provide and to decrease market demand.

“This does not imply manufacturing can be halved, nevertheless it undoubtedly means going under the present day by day price of 210 models,” he stated.

To handle effectivity and overcapacity points in Italy, CEO Carlo Tavares can be contemplating whether or not to pay attention manufacturing on the Melfi plant into one line from the present two, Uliano stated final month.

Unions will meet with Stellantis’ “enlarged Europe” area prime executives on April 15 in Turin.

“We’ll know on April 15 whether or not such a plan turns into official or not,” Uliano stated.