Stellantis once again faces questions about its Cassino plant in central Italy after the Financial Times examined the group’s production slump and the options available for its underused European factories. The British newspaper identified closer cooperation with Leapmotor or Dongfeng as one possible scenario, although Stellantis has not assigned any new models to the site.
Leapmotor or Dongfeng could help revive Stellantis’ Cassino plant
The renewed attention comes as the company prepares another shutdown. Stellantis will halt the body shop, paint shop, final assembly line and related departments from August 17 through August 31, extending a series of stoppages caused by production volumes far below the plant’s capacity. The latest pause will further reduce the number of working days and increase uncertainty for employees and suppliers.
The plant builds the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio, along with the Maserati Grecale. All three models reach US customers through their respective dealer networks.
Cassino produced only 6,700 vehicles during the first half of 2026, while its theoretical annual capacity approaches 300,000 units. Those figures cover different periods and cannot support a direct comparison, but they still illustrate the enormous gap between current output and the industrial scale of a factory designed for high-volume premium production.
According to the Financial Times, broader cooperation with Leapmotor, the Chinese EV manufacturer in which Stellantis owns a stake, or with state-controlled Dongfeng could bring additional production to European plants. Cassino could potentially benefit from such an agreement, with possible consequences for Maserati as the brand works through a difficult commercial period in the United States and other markets.
However, Stellantis has not confirmed any models, investments, production targets or schedules for Cassino. Leapmotor and Dongfeng therefore remain possible partners rather than approved solutions.
Cassino Mayor Enzo Salera has said he would welcome any project capable of restoring production and providing greater continuity for workers. He has also urged Stellantis to turn the various proposals into clear and verifiable decisions. After years of plans that failed to materialize, local representatives want firm dates and measurable industrial commitments.
Around 2,200 Stellantis employees work directly at the plant, while thousands more depend on companies throughout the local supply chain. Any further reduction in activity would affect component manufacturers, service providers and families across the surrounding area.
Protecting employment will require enough production to reduce shutdowns and keep the plant’s departments and assembly lines operating on a more regular basis.
The Financial Times report has brought greater international attention to Cassino’s problems, but it has not changed conditions at the factory. The plant’s future will depend on which models Stellantis assigns to it, how much capital the company invests and what role Cassino receives within the group’s broader European strategy.