Electric propulsion is reshaping the automotive future at Stellantis, with the Figueruelas plant in Spain playing a pivotal role in the shift toward large-scale electric car production. The Aragon facility has already entered the sustainable mobility era by assembling the plug-in version of the Opel Corsa for two years and other electric models in its lineup. Mass production of the Peugeot 208 and Lancia Ypsilon is planned to begin this fall and next spring, respectively. To fund this leap, the company is pursuing substantial investments through the Perte VEC program, which has issued a second call for support totaling 559 million euros.
The Spanish plant and the group’s leadership are evaluating this financing path to secure a larger stake in the transition. Since last Wednesday, the window to apply for eligibility has been opened. The Zaragoza plant is firmly positioned to adopt a new industrial platform, STLA Small, which will be standard for all small models across the brands from 2026. The Aragon plant faces the challenge of updating its production systems from CMP and EMP2 to align with the new platform.
With these changes, the factory plans to integrate electrified models under its purview and safeguard its outlook for the next decade. There will be no last-minute surprises, in keeping with the cautious approach of any major manufacturer. Stellantis is set to present its proposal before September 15 after addressing cost and quality expectations from the executive leadership.
Although the workforce is currently on vacation, the plant continues its summer studies aimed at accelerating the adoption of new processes while minimizing disruption to operations. The term often used to describe a rapid, organized push to implement innovations is being employed as the plan for STLA Small moves forward. The expectations around Perte VEC suggest that adaptation studies for the new platform will proceed through the summer of 2024, raising the question of when the call will be resolved.
The new Stellantis industrial platform announced for the Figueruelas facility extends beyond Spain to other sites in Italy and is connected to the Vigo plant as well. The group is also working to allocate a production base for Pomigliano, near Naples in southern Italy, where Fiat Panda and Alfa Romeo Tonale are currently produced. The sector expects state support to influence the balance in the coming months, as it has in Spain, shaping the landscape for the company’s broader electrification strategy.
The strategy behind the platform has two aims. First, to maintain multiple production lines and avoid a single-stream factory setup that can lead to waste. Second, to drive a significant leap forward in electrification across the group, keeping pace with its global ambitions.
New deal clears the future
Stellantis has five European sites already awarded STLAs for compact electric models with autonomy up to 500 kilometers, across Germany, France, and Italy. The smallest plant has yet to be officially awarded, though Zaragoza appears to have a clearer path thanks to an agreement between workers and management to sign a new contract in exchange for an industry plan that will enable new models to come with that platform. A complete allocation of public incentives remains pending, with the Perte VEC program’s second call considered essential to finalizing the plan. Stellantis aims to secure the majority of the funds to establish STLA Small in Zaragoza and Vigo, while top suppliers in the sector are bidding for orders tied to the platform both for Spain and Italy.
[Source: industry reports and corporate briefings on Stellantis initiatives; for internal tracking only.]