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Automotive Industry
Stellantis will start making dual-clutch transmissions for hybrid vehicles in Termoli, Italy, in a move that could provide an alternative strategy for a facility that was due to turn to EV battery production.
Termoli’s engine-making plant in one of the sites where Stellantis-led joint venture ACC planned to build one of its three EV battery-making plants in Europe.
But while a gigafactory in France has already started operations and investments continue for its development, plans for two similar facilities in Italy and Germany were officially paused last year, as ACC was switching to lower-cost batteries amid slowing demand for electric vehicles.
Stellantis said on 17 February that it would produce electrified dual clutch transmissions (eDCT), a key component for hybrid vehicles, in Termoli to expand its hybrid offerings.
The Termoli factory will have an annual capacity of 300,000 transmission annually.
Italy’s major metalworker unions welcomed the announcement on Monday, saying eDCT production would provide employment for around 300 of the total 1,800 staff at the Termoli plant.
Gianluca Ficco of UILM union said long-term decisions were now needed for the future of the plant, including on the ACC gigafactory plan.
The automaker already makes the eDCT in Mirafiori, Italy, and Metz, France. Those factories each have the capacity to produce 600,000 transmissions a year.
In addition, Stellantis said it would increase production of components for the transmissions in Metz and Sint Truidan, France, and add a new assembly line there.
The transmissions, for plug-in and 48-volt hybrid systems, were originally developed in a joint venture with Punch Powertrain. Stellantis in January took full control of the joint venture.
The automaker says the 48-volt hybrid offers up to 20% lower CO2 emissions than a similar nonhybrid engine, and that up to 50% of urban driving can be done in full-electric mode.