MILAN — Stellantis will once more cease operations at its key Melfi plant in southern Italy subsequent week, a union consultant mentioned, citing shortages of assorted elements, together with semiconductors.

Marco Lomio, native head of UILM metalworkers union, mentioned chip scarcity was the primary drawback.

“Thankfully the plant has labored commonly all all through Might, however when chips usually are not shipped we merely can not construct vehicles,” he mentioned after a gathering between the corporate and native staff’ representatives on Wednesday.

Stellantis confirmed the plant would cease operations between June 6-11 resulting from a chip scarcity, a spokesman for the carmaker advised Reuters.

UILM’s Lomio mentioned the brand new stoppage, which impacts virtually all of Melfi’s greater than 7,000 staff, provides to a vacation interval already scheduled for many of Stellantis’ operations within the nation beginning on Thursday with Italy’s Republic Day, Lomio mentioned.

“Principally the plant will cease operations on Thursday to reopen solely on (Monday) June 13,” he mentioned.

Stellantis at present builds the Fiat 500X small crossover, Jeep Renegade small SUV and Jeep Compass compact SUV in Melfi.

The automaker plans to construct 4 midsize section full-electric automobiles for its totally different manufacturers in Melfi beginning in 2024, underpinning them with its new full-electric STLA medium platform, the FIM-CISL and UILM unions mentioned final month.