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Market Challenges Drive Production Pauses for Key Stellantis Models

Stellantis Confronts Lagging Sales: The Impact on Production Schedules

Stellantis has announced yet another suspension in the manufacturing of several of its less popular vehicle lines. Among those affected, the Alfa Romeo Tonale stands out, a development that is hardly unexpected. Despite the Italian manufacturer's optimistic report of a one-third increase in total European deliveries during the first half of the year, the compact crossover actually contributed negatively to these figures.

Sharp Decline in Tonale Sales Across Major Markets

Insights from the market research firm Dataforce, highlighted by Automotive News Europe, indicate a substantial 42.1 percent decrease in demand for the Tonale through August, with sales plummeting to a mere 10,840 units. The situation is equally challenging in the United States, where Alfa Romeo recorded sales of only 1,156 vehicles in the initial six months of the year, marking a 28 percent reduction. Its American counterpart, the Dodge Hornet, experienced an even more severe decline, falling by 52 percent to 5,647 units over the identical timeframe.

Manufacturing Adjustments for the Tonale and Dodge Hornet

In response to this decreasing demand, Stellantis is implementing a production shutdown at its Pomigliano factory in Italy, scheduled from September 29 to October 10. This facility is also responsible for assembling the rebadged Dodge Hornet, which is then exported to the US market. While an updated Tonale model is anticipated to launch this autumn, potentially revitalizing sales in 2026, skepticism remains regarding its immediate impact.

Fiat Panda Also Affected by Production Halts

Reuters has also confirmed that the Fiat Panda, produced at the same Italian plant, will experience a temporary pause in its assembly lines between September 29 and October 6. This is not the first instance of production suspension for the long-standing small car due to subdued sales. Stellantis continues to offer the 14-year-old model, even following the introduction of the Grande Panda in 2024. Dataforce statistics reveal that Panda sales in Europe have dipped by approximately five percent this year, from 89,307 to 84,793 vehicles between January and August.

Broader Production Adjustments for Opel and DS Models

The Tonale and Panda are not the sole Stellantis models facing production interruptions. The assembly of the Opel Mokka and DS3 is set to be temporarily halted from October 13 to 31. Both vehicles are manufactured at the French plant in Poissy, where Stellantis is scaling back production to align with the challenging European market conditions, as stated by a company representative to Reuters.

Stellantis's Overall European Performance and Emerging Models

Stellantis's performance across Europe this year has been largely unfavorable. Data released by the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) shows an 8.1 percent drop in sales through July, totaling 1,192,746 units. Brands such as Opel/Vauxhall, Citroën, Fiat, DS, and Lancia have all seen declines, though Peugeot, Jeep, and Alfa Romeo have experienced growth compared to the previous year. Alfa Romeo has managed to counterbalance the Tonale's downturn with its smaller Junior, a subcompact crossover not available in the US market. This B-segment model has already garnered over 45,000 orders across 38 countries, with expectations for further demand as it expands into more regions.

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