Based on Stellantis, Termoli will develop into the third manufacturing centre for these transmissions for the automotive group, alongside the Mirafiori (Italy) and Metz (France) vegetation. It’s going to have a capability of 300,000 models per yr. These eDCT gearboxes will probably be used within the varied Group manufacturers’ whole gentle hybrid fleet (MHEV) and new plug-in hybrid technology (PHEV). Stellantis says they’re characterised by “prime efficiency when it comes to weight discount, gas consumption and pollutant emissions.”
The eDCT transmission was launched to Stellantis through the previous PSA Group and comes particularly from a three way partnership between the French automobile producer and the Belgian transmission producer Punch Powertrain. It has been in-built Metz since 2020. Nonetheless, on the finish of January, Stellantis took “full management of the event and manufacturing technique of the eDCT gearbox, beforehand carried out in collaboration with a Belgian OEM.” The initiative to additionally construct the eDCT in Termoli sooner or later is a “logical and concrete consequence of the current acquisition.”
The multi-brand group depends on the eDCT on a big scale and can also be increasing manufacturing in Metz with a brand new meeting line. To satisfy rising demand, the manufacturing of vital elements within the element vegetation in Metz and Sint Truden, Belgium, can also be being ramped up.
The manufacturing facility in Termoli was a Fiat engine plant for a very long time. Within the subject of electromobility, the positioning on the Adriatic coast is greatest recognized for the ACC cell manufacturing facility introduced for 2022. The three way partnership between Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz and TotalEnergies needed to construct a battery manufacturing facility there that may produce 40 GWh per yr when accomplished. In the summertime of 2024, the challenge in Termoli and in addition in Kaiserslautern was placed on maintain to await future market developments and the required cell know-how – the plan was to supply NMC cells, however particularly cheaper electrical vehicles more and more use LFP cells. Given the scenario at Stellantis, together with the departure of its CEO, the subdued improvement of Mercedes’ electrical automobile gross sales and the current statements by TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné relating to the concentrate on the prevailing French manufacturing facility, it’s questionable whether or not the introduced cell manufacturing in Termoli will probably be realised in any respect.
With this in thoughts, Reuters requested ACC what the present improvement means for the battery plans: an ACC spokesperson mentioned that the three way partnership remains to be evaluating its funding plans for Italy and Germany to decide this yr – however not earlier than June. The gearbox announcement by Stellantis doesn’t change the scenario.
stellantis.com (edct; in Italy), reuters.com (acc.)
