Stellantis in danger. Will the Trnava factory lose its key model? – PRAVDA.sk

In Trnava, they were proud to produce the European bestseller Peugeot 208. However, they will probably come. It should be produced anew in Africa and Spain.

Carlos Tavares, CEO of the world’s fourth-largest automaker, formed earlier this year by the merger of Fiat Chrysler (FCA) and PSA, is known for being unusual to put a napkin in front of him and to name problems directly and easily.

Reorganization and cost reduction

In March of this year, for example, he told Italian trade unionists that the direct costs of making cars in their Turin factory were up to three times higher than in the Stellantis factories, which are located in France and Spain, for example. And if they want to stay competitive, something needs to be done quickly.

This statement came at almost the same time as the Trnava factory of Stellnatis announced that it was in the game for a new investment in the order of hundreds of millions. And he needs it like salt. As early as the end of 2020, when we visited it on the occasion of the start of production of the modernized Citroën C3, its production director said that the arrival of a new model was vital for them. Although the successful Citroën C3 models and the Peugeot 208 European Car of the Year are currently being produced in Trnava, including the electrified version of the e-208, this is not enough.

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Although the new model is key and the Trnava carmaker is one of the most successful within the group, it certainly did not have a novelty in its pocket. The problem of Trnava is relatively high costs, including wage costs. The director of the factory, Stéphan Bonhommeau, even saw the biggest handicap of the Slovak plant at that time. On the occasion of the start of production of the refurbished Citroën C3, he said at a press conference: “We have stable costs that we are not very successful in reducing. In Slovakia, they are also affected by high energy prices and labor costs. “

Trnava gets a good car, but loses better

According to him, since the arrival of the new model, the Trnava factory has existentially dependent. However, in addition to competition in Spain, he had to fight with others in the form of plants with a similar production program in Serbia, Poland and Turkey. Of course, in the spring, no one even wanted to indicate what the hot news should be for Trnava’s Stellantis.

So in March we also guessed. Since the facelift of the Citroën C3 appeared on the Trnava routes in 2020 and the new model will be produced in Trnava at the end of 2022 at the earliest, and should be electric, it could be the new generation of the Citroën C3. The current one will end its life cycle. In addition, it will be built on the e-CMP platform, which is currently used by its group competitor – the electric Peugeot 208. In addition to the Citroëne C3, it could theoretically also be the electric Opel Corsa.

Read more Stellantis moves diesel production to Russia! They will return from there

In the end, everything will probably be different and our prediction was wrong. Currently, it looks like Trnava will even lose its currently most important model, which is the European bestseller Peugeot 208. Production of the European bestseller and car of the year 2020 is to go to the south of Europe and even to Africa. He informed about it at the end of last month French magazine L’argus. So what exactly does it look like?

Preference was given to Afirka and Spaniards

The Peugeot 208 should indeed cease production in Trnava in 2023. The Trnava factory should then focus on a production program with the working name “Smart cars”. The Citroën C3 should be produced there, the Citroën C3 Aircross and finally Opel would be added.

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But not the Corsa, as we thought, but the new Opel Crossland – from 2024. And what will happen to the Peugeot 208? According to the French magazine, the production of all versions with internal combustion engines under the hood should be completely moved to Africa, specifically to the factory in Kenitra, Morocco. The electric version of this model, marked e-208, would be produced together with the electric Opel Corsa in Zaragoza, Spain.

The Peugeot 208 was the center of gravity for Trnava, its departure will be a loss, even if it is replaced by two well-established innovations. In the long run, it would be advantageous for Trnava if as many electrified versions as possible remained in the portfolio. However, these will be the production content mainly in Western European factories.