Atessa, nel polo di Stellantis si guarda al futuro del Ducato

Stellantis is investing a billion euros at its Atessa plant to bolster the industrial mission of the site, described as a "strategic European hub for commercial vehicles of large dimensions and a leader in factory-conducted conversions." The challenge for the historic Ducato factory—a model celebrating 45 years of activity—is twofold: preparing to host the Group's new family of commercial vehicles, expected to be presented at Hannover in mid-September and enter the market in 2029, and effectively allocating the one billion euros of announced investments from the Group's executives between now and 2030.

These investments will aim to renovate production areas and support the industrial effort needed to respond to a market undergoing significant transformation, both in terms of set-ups and motorizations. Hannover will see Stellantis Pro One unveil "Box-on-Wheels," a new concept marking a strategic shift towards providing integrated logistics solutions.

Other latest innovations from Stellantis CustomFit, a program combining internal transformations with a global network of over 500 certified partners for integration, quality, and safety compliance, will also be showcased. At the Abbruzzese Group plant overseen by CEO Antonio Filosa, the summer closure was only two weeks long; the factory reopened last week, and a solidarity contract was finalized last month, with over 4,200 employees working on three shifts and voluntarily working extra weekends.

"The company is already making pre-investment preparatory interventions, with a significant intervention planned for December in the Lastratura department, involving machinery, robotics, and material processing automation," explains Amedeo Nanni from Fim Cisl. In the first half of the year, production reached 94,030 units, 4% less than the same period in 2025; this decline can be attributed to structural interventions carried out this time in the paint shop area.

The 190,000-unit threshold is still achievable, according to unions. Atessa is one of Stellantis' main productive centers in Italy, alongside Pomigliano, with production share increasing from around a third to nearly half of the units manufactured in Italian factories. Even as Group-wide vehicle production has been heavily reduced between 2024 and 2025, with a recovery of about 30% this year, the light commercial vehicles sector has performed much better.

In the Abbruzzese plant, Group commercial vehicles are produced, including the Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer, Citroën Jumper, Opel Movano/Vauxhall Movano, and Toyota Proace Max. However, the company has not yet officially communicated how the billion-euro investment will be allocated over the next five years. "It's important to clarify what measures will be implemented on the lines, how the current production bottlenecks will be managed, and what potential impacts on employment and downstream effects will be," emphasizes Alfredo Fegatelli, Fiom Chieti secretary general.

Currently, daily production at the Abbruzzese plant is between 800 and 850 vehicles, down from the 1,200 recorded in previous years. The main limitation is the paint shop capacity, which, although renovated, has a smaller capacity than before. Another area needing structural intervention may be the decking area – the union between the vehicle body and the mechanical group comprised of engine, suspension, and transmission.