TURIN — Stellantis has halted manufacturing at its van manufacturing unit in Russia as a result of it has run out of elements, the top of the automaker’s European light-commercial automobile unit, Eric Laforge, informed Automotive Information Europe.
Stellantis stated earlier that it was suspending imports and exports of automobiles from Russia, following the invasion of Ukraine in February. The group operates a van manufacturing unit in Kaluga, 180 km (120 miles) southwest of Moscow, in partnership with Mitsubishi, the place it builds midsize vans for the Citroen, Opel and Peugeot manufacturers.
CEO Carlos Tavares stated in late March that it was possible the Kaluga manufacturing unit must cease manufacturing as elements provides dwindled. On Thursday, Laforge informed ANE that the manufacturing unit had halted operations.
Many automakers have suspended or halted operations in Russia because the battle in Ukraine started, together with Ford, BMW, Renault Group and Volkswagen Group. VW has stopped manufacturing at its personal manufacturing unit in Kaluga.
New automotive gross sales in Russia fell 63 p.c in March, contracting for a ninth straight month.
Stellantis has comparatively little publicity to the Russian market. Manufacturing at Kaluga was about 11,000 items final 12 months. It had deliberate to start exporting vans to western Europe and in addition begin meeting of Fiat-branded vans there.
Stellantis will enhance van manufacturing at its manufacturing unit in Hordain, northern France, to interchange deliberate exports from Kaluga, Laforge stated.
Hordain and Kaluga construct vans primarily based on the Stellantis’ K0 platform. The Hordain plant produces the Citroen Jumpy, Fiat Scudo, Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro and Peugeot Knowledgeable for Stellantis in addition to the Toyota Proace.
Mitsubishi builds the Pajero Sport in Kaluga. The plant is owned by PCMA Rus, a three way partnership wherein Stellantis holds 70 p.c and Mitsubishi 30 p.c.
Mitsubishi stated on April 8 that “as a result of logistical difficulties, automobile exports and elements provide” manufacturing at Kaluga had been suspended since March.