Fiat Chrysler has again stopped its Atessa plant in Italy because of disruptions in parts supply associated with the coronavirus outbreak, after it was reopened on Tuesday, a union representative stated on Wednesday.
Situated in Abruzzo in central Italy, Atessa was the automaker’s only functioning assembly plant in Europe following the group’s statement on Monday that it would halt production for two weeks at most of its European facilities to help to protect staff and adjust to a decline in demand..
Gianluca Ficco, of UILM metal mechanic union, stated the company told workers’ representative of its decision to shut down the plant.
“We know it will be closed until Sunday, due to lack of parts supplies,” he stated.
A spokesman for Fiat Chrysler (FCA) confirmed the plant was stopped on Wednesday and that it was expected to resume operations on Monday.
The automaker and the other two Detroit competitors, General Motors and Ford, agreed on Tuesday with the U.S. union United Auto Workers (UAW) to curtail production at U.S. factories and limit the amount of workers on the job at one time to prevent the increase of the coronavirus among approximately 150,000 factory employees.
Atessa was restarted with less production rates on Tuesday after being stopped last week as the company carried out deep cleaning and some reconfiguration of production lines to permit more space between workers.
The facility is controlled by Sevel, a joint venture between FCA and PSA-Peugeot. It generally produces about 300,000 light commercial vehicles annually and has hired about 5,000 people.
Among parts makers which have halted supplies, Ficco quoted Germany’s Isringhausen, which also operates a plant located in Atessa supplying seats to Sevel.
Isringhausen’s workers in Atessa are presently on strike over the implementation of anti-virus health measures at their factory.
The FCA spokesman also confirmed the stoppage was partly because of disruptions in parts supply from regional manufacturers, including Isringhausen.
Ficco stated that at the restarting the Atessa plant was compliant with health requirements set by the government, but that employees were still worried about possible virus contagion.
“Like in every manufacturing plant, there is a huge fear among workers about contagion,” he stated.
Coronavirus has so far infected more than 225,627 people and killed more than 9,277 people worldwide. In Italy, it has killed 2,978 and infected 35,713 people.
