As a response to the factory’s complete shut down, the unions launched strikes in Fiat plants across the country. The automaker has serious arguments for closing the plant and moving the Lancia Ypsilon production to Poland. According to the company, no less than 1,000 Euros are lost per car.
As Fiat clearly stated that it will close down its plant in Sicily regardless of the government's plan to reinstate the scrappage scheme, the authorities' priority became saving as many jobs as they can. Industry minister Claudio Scajola said that the Italian government already received offers to convert the plant, just-auto.com reported.
The industry minister told Canale 5, an Italian tv station, that eight to ten offers are on the table for Fiat’s Termini Imerese factory. The options will be analyzed on March 5, when industry ministry officials, unions and Fiat management are scheduled to meet.
Claudio Scajola did not give any details about the offers, but said that the proposal which saves the most jobs will be the preferred one. Fiat’s Termini Imerese factory in Sicily has 1,600 employees, while another 1,400 are believed to be working for Fiat’s suppliers nearby. Therefore the plant’s complete shut down would seriously affect the island’s economy.
Back in December, a local newspaper from India said that two Indian automakers, Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra are interested in taking over Fiat's S.p.A.'s factory in Termini Imerese, Italy. At that time, Scajola said that he was not aware of the negotiations, but that "Indian investors, including Tata Motors and M&M are welcome in Italy."
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