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Stellantis will build four electric vehicles in Italy, say union reps

MILAN — Stellantis will produce four medium-segment electric vehicles, of different brands, at its Melfi plant in southern Italy from 2024, the UILM union said on Tuesday. Since Stellantis was formed at the beginning of this year through the merger of Fiat Chrysler and France's PSA, production in Italy has been under scrutiny for costing more than elsewhere in Europe. "Stellantis announced that Melfi would be the first plant in Italy to get new models, based on post-2022 business plan," UILM said in a statement after workers' representatives met with the carmaker at Italy's industry ministry in Rome. Future production at Melfi will be based on a single enhanced production line that will merge the two existing ones, the union said, adding the restructuring will leave production capacity at the site unchanged at around 400,000 units. UILM's head, Rocco Palombella, said unions had not received all the answers they wanted as Stellantis was still working on its new business plan. "But the positive element is that the company has not absolutely called for structural redundancies," he said after the meeting. Stellantis Chief Executive Carlos Tavares has said the group would present its business plan late this year or in early 2022. Stellantis, the world's fourth-largest carmaker, gave no details about what was discussed at the meeting. In an earlier statement the company said it was working "with determination and speed" to support the energy transition of all its Italian sites. Italy's Industry minister, Giancarlo Giorgetti, however, said in a separate statement after the meeting that Stellantis had yet to decide where it would build its third electric battery plant in Europe. Stellantis, which already has two battery factory projects in France and Germany, has said adding gigafactories in Europe and the United States would be decided this year. The company is holding talks on this with Rome, as Italy is one of its main production hubs in Europe. Related video: Green Plants/Manufacturing Alfa Romeo Fiat Jeep Citroen Opel Peugeot Stellantis

2018 Jeep Wrangler will have an aluminum hood and doors, leaked memo says

Earlier this year, FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne revealed that 2018 Jeep Wrangler would feature a heavy dose of aluminum, though he didn't specify how. Now, JL Wrangler Forums says the Wrangler will use the material for the hood and the doors, citing an internal bulletin from aluminum supplier Alcoa. According to the forum, the company says the next-gen Wrangler will utilize Aloca's C6A1 (an internal name) high form alloy. The SUV will also get 6022 and A951 from Alcoa that will be used on the SUV's front and rear doors, as well as for the hood. Alcoa's C6A1 is the company's new high form alloy, while its 6022 alloy sheet can be found on things like a car's hood, door, or closure panels. Alcoa's A951 is the company's pre-treatment aluminum sheet bonding technology that it uses on automobiles. "A team in the Farmington Hills (Michigan, USA) Aerospace and Automotive Products group is leading a new profitable growth opportunity with the 2018 Jeep Wrangler program. The next generation Jeep becomes the first to utilize our C6A1 high form alloy; we are currently the only supplier of this high form product. Alcoa will also supply 6022 and A951, including front and rear door inners, hood outer and inner." As Marchionne pointed out earlier this year, the 2018 Wrangler won't be made entirely out of aluminum. So Alcoa's contribution to the upcoming SUV's doors and hood could be the only components that use the lightweight metal – or Jeep could be using another aluminum supplier for other parts. Large changes lie ahead for the 2018 Wrangler, which include a pickup version, new engines, and aluminum. But we do know that the next Wrangler is that it will be built in Toledo, OH, as FCA announced plans to spend $1.05 billion to retool the Wrangler factory, while also adding another site in Illinois earlier this year. Related Video:

2018 Jeep Wrangler to get 8-speed auto

Remember when the Jeep Wrangler had a three-speed automatic? That wasn't that long ago – as recent as the 2007 redesign – but Chrysler is keen to leave those days behind on the dusty trail. The current model ushered in a four-speed, then a five-speed, but the latest intel indicates that an eight-speed automatic is in the cards. According to a report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and cited by Automotive News, Jeep plans on fitting its eight-speed automatic transmission to the next-generation Wrangler. Chrysler already uses the ZF-sourced slushbox on the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Ram 1500, Chrysler 300, and versions of the Dodge Challenger, Charger and Durango. But according to the SEC filing, the Auburn Hills automaker intends "to use this transmission in all of our rear-wheel-drive vehicles, except for heavy-duty versions of the Ram pick-up truck and the SRT Viper." AN says that Chrysler wanted to slot the transmission straight into the current Wrangler, but it wouldn't fit. Between the transmission and shift to aluminum construction, the next-generation Wrangler promises to deliver a significant reduction in fuel consumption. In correspondence with Autoblog, however, company spokesmen declined to comment on the eight-speed's suitability towards either the current Wrangler or the upcoming one.