“The new electric 500 is driving the energy transition in Italy”. Eligio Catarinella, Fiat & Abarth country manager, presents comforting numbers in spite of a market increasingly held back by the absence of microchips and economic uncertainty: “I am very satisfied with the commercial results in the first three months of the year, which confirm the leadership of the Fiat brand. The first electric car of our brand deserves a particular focus: last year it registered 1,500 registrations in Italy, where it was the best-selling zero emission, and 11 thousand globally. From its launch to the end of 2020 there were over 50 thousand registrations “.
Despite a 38.7% drop in electricity in March, the 500e also performed well in the first quarter of 2022. “And we await the effects of the new state incentives because government support is essential, like infrastructure growth, to drive customers towards electrified mobility.”
Stellantis CEO Carlo Tavares has just announced that Mirafiori will be the backbone of the electrification process within the group. A tour of the Turin Manufacturing District is enough to perceive the validity of the project started, which also includes the Battery Hub and Lab and the largest Vehicle-to-Grid plant (which returns clean energy to the grid) in the world.
The flagship is the production line of the virtuous city car which engages, in two shifts, over 1,300 operators in the processing, painting and assembly stations. Automation is advanced, the pursuit of quality a mantra. “The 500 was our past, now it is an icon that takes us into the future – summarizes the plant manager Luigi Barbieri – Today we produce 304 cars a day, but we are ready to accept any request that comes from the market, and others as well. electric models of the Stellantis group. We want to be an example for the whole country “.
Fiat is preparing to launch its second zero-emission model, the new E-Ulysse, which returns to the scene this month. Waiting to accelerate on the transition: as early as 2023 a new vehicle will be presented every year, each with an electric engine, to present a fully electric range from 2027.
This objective will also materialize thanks to the strategic plan “Dare Forward 2030” which sees a key role for the Piedmontese district and Mirafiori in particular (with its 737,000 square meters of surface of which 451,000 are covered) for the implementation of an efficient production process where different platforms, models and propulsion systems are integrated.
The new methods of conceiving and managing work are also fundamental. Stellantis is committed to retraining and improving the professional skills of employees. The 500e line, for which 700 million has been invested in the last 3 years, makes use of the Manufacturing Execution System (MES), for example, thanks to which it is possible to monitor orders and control the quality of external suppliers in real time. The team leader has the possibility to interact with the system even directly from his smartphone. Employee well-being is a priority. Each employee works on variable workstations that guarantee ideal ergonomics. At the factory there are, of course, no exhaust gases and noises are minimized.
High electrical voltage requires particular caution, so the High Voltage Manager was born, a figure who identifies the person responsible for specific safety parameters in the final production phase in which the car is powered and the voltage in the cables is 400 volts.
Mirafiori and the “500e house” are also inspired by the trend of the entire Stellantis group (300 thousand employees) in which the female presence will be increasingly valued. In 2021, 24% of women held managerial positions, in 2027 they will be 27% and 30% in 2030. Projects such as “Women of Stellantis” are designed to implement company and product strategies, but also individual welfare.
