Fiat May Nearly Close Mirafiori Factory to Finance Chrysler Purchase

FiatFiatItaly, 1899 > present159 models
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is meeting with its labor union to negotiate whether reduced hours at the Mirafiori factory in Turin will have reduced hours for another 12 months starting from the end of September.

Fiat CEO Marchionne said in February that it may invest €1 billion in the factory to build new Alfa RomeoAlfa RomeoItaly, 1910 > present108 models
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and MaseratiMaseratiItaly, 1914 > present62 models
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models. Since then, the investment has been put on hold because the Italian court ruled that Fiat could not prevent a labor union from representing workers.

The factory is currently at an almost standstill with workers only there three days per month to build the Alfa Romeo MiToAlfa Romeo MiToItaly, 2008 > present89 versions
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.

"We will meet with the company shortly to discuss renewed layoffs and Fiat could give us its outlook for the factory's future," said Claudio Ciarle, the union’s secretary.

The union believes that the decision to expand production will hinge on how much Fiat needs to spend to buy the rest of ChryslerChryslerUnited States of America, 1925 > present70 models
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.

Source: Automotive News Europe