The installation of a state-of-the-art Comau robot today at one of the largest and most historic automotive plants in the world represented a link between past and future, with an event that celebrated the Mirafiori plant's 80th anniversary and beginning of construction of the assembly line for the new Fiat 500 BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle).
Today's celebrations marked the opening of a new chapter for Mirafiori. The platform being installed at the plant is specific to electric cars and its first application will be the Fiat 500 BEV. Today, the first robot was installed and the rest of the plant will be retooled over the coming months. In the body shop alone, there will be a total of 200 robots enabling a fully-automated welding process. Production of the first pre-production models is scheduled to begin by year-end. Around 1,200 people will be dedicated to production of the Fiat 500 BEV and the new assembly line will have an annual capacity of 80,000 units, with further potential for expansion.
"This car was entirely conceived, designed and engineered here. It is a genuine product of 'Made at Fiat' and 'Made in Turin' ingenuity. It is another excellent example of the ability to create and innovate which abounds in our company and in this city." said Gorlier.
The 500 BEV project is part of FCA's much broader investment plan for Italy over the 2019-2021 period. In fact, the Group will invest a total of €5 billion (approx. $7.65 billion) to support a substantial renewal of its product range with the introduction of 13 all new or significantly refreshed models and a comprehensive offering of electric vehicles, including 12 electrified versions of new or existing models. "Despite the challenging macro-economic climate, and consequent weak market conditions, we have confirmed our investment plan and today’s ceremony is a concrete sign that our projects are advancing at speed," said Gorlier.
