To prepare for a future of e-mobility, FCA has announced that it will be building a €50m (US$55m) battery assembly complex in Turin.
The battery hub, which is located in the Mirafiori complex will begin preparations in 2020 where it will create batteries to be used by new generations of full-electric FCA models, including the first fully-electric Fiat 500. Maserati has also recently announced new electric-powered models, which will use batteries from the center.
A complete battery assembly center will be created in a specially designed building, with the potential to be expanded for future projects. The most advanced technology will be used with modular and flexible processes, including the use of collaborative robots working hand-in-hand with operators.
“The automotive industry is undergoing a period of profound change and one of the major trends is closely linked to electrification,” said Pietro Gorlier, COO for FCA’s EMEA Region. “With its new car battery assembly center at Mirafiori, FCA accelerates its drive to electrify, adding now another element to the ‘ecosystem’ that starts from supply chain and ends with customer support. A journey passing through the recent partnerships on recharging infrastructure, Vehicle-to-Grid and services to support customers of hybrid and full electric cars, from Italy to the rest of the world.”
The new Battery Hub will also have an advanced technology center dedicated to quality control and testing of components provided by industry-leading suppliers. After assembly, state-of-the-art electronically-controlled systems will be used to test the efficiency of the batteries.
In total, FCA will invest more than €5 billion in Italy over the 2019-2021 period in support of a substantial renewal of the product range, with the introduction of 13 all-new or significantly refreshed models. Moreover, the electrification of the product range includes the introduction of 12 electric versions of new or existing models.
