Stellantis said a shortage of a chip used in an engine control unit is disrupting production of two Fiat models in Italy and could lead to additional stoppages at several plants through November and December.
The shortage is affecting the Fiat Pandina and Fiat 500, two vehicles that use the same N3 GSE engine. Stellantis describes the Pandina as a best-selling model. The automaker said the missing component reduced October sales and could force more production downtime at the Pomigliano and Mirafiori facilities.
Three plants linked by one engine
Pomigliano produces the Pandina, while Mirafiori builds the Fiat 500. The N3 GSE engine used by both models is assembled at Stellantis’ Termoli engine plant. A slowdown at either vehicle factory can therefore affect activity at the engine site as well, because production volumes are connected across the facilities.
- Pomigliano: production site for the Fiat Pandina.
- Mirafiori: plant that builds the Fiat 500.
- Termoli: facility where the N3 GSE engine is assembled.
Mirafiori was already facing a separate three-week halt that began in mid-October because of another component shortage. Unions have also pointed to weaker demand for the Fiat 500, adding another pressure on the plant’s operating schedule.
Stellantis is looking for alternative sources or solutions for the missing chip as it works to restore operations. The component is used in an engine control unit, an electronic system required for the vehicle’s powertrain. Without the part, completed vehicles cannot move through production even when most other components are available.
The disruption illustrates how a shortage involving a relatively small electronic component can affect several locations at once. When assembly lines run below capacity, automakers continue to carry expenses such as labor, utilities and equipment while producing fewer vehicles. That can raise the cost associated with each vehicle and put pressure on near-term margins.
For Stellantis, the potential downtime extends beyond a single model or factory. The Pandina and Fiat 500 share the same engine, so prolonged interruptions could reduce activity at both vehicle plants and at Termoli during the final two months of the year.
