Stellantis NV will temporarily suspend operations at several plants in France in October as it navigates tight supplies of long-range EV batteries and works to avoid stocking vehicles that miss what customers want. The Sochaux site in eastern France, which builds the Peugeot 3008 SUV, will close Oct. 23 to Oct. 30. Rennes, home to the Citroën C5 Aircross, will shut Oct. 22 to Oct. 30.
Near Paris, Poissy is slated to close Oct. 19 to Oct. 23. The company says Mulhouse will be idled over the last two weeks of October, citing slower-than-expected demand for models including the Peugeot 308. Stellantis runs five vehicle assembly plants in France.
According to the company, demand for EVs with long-range batteries "remains strong, in particular from business customers, and is currently higher than available supply." Stellantis said it is temporarily adjusting production "to remain aligned with market demand and to avoid building up stocks of vehicles that do not match customer needs." The squeeze is hitting the Citroën C5 Aircross especially hard as its long-range version rolls out in multiple markets.
The broader backdrop matters too. A spike in EV demand tied to the US-Israeli war on Iran has led to tanker movements being thrown off course in the Strait of Hormuz, pushing average gasoline and diesel prices to records in countries such as France. That kind of fuel shock tilts buyers toward longer-range electric options, which is exactly where supply is tightest.
Supply hiccups remind investors that steady strategies protect and grow wealth over time. Join Briefs Finance CEO Jaspreet Singh on September 29th for a FREE live investor workshop, How to Profit From A Dollar That's Losing its Value, where he shows how we're spotting investment opportunities as the dollar falls. Save your spot.
Stellantis has been grappling with a shortage of long-range packs supplied by Automotive Cells Co. - the JV backed by Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz Group AG and TotalEnergies SE, which runs a factory in northern France. Earlier this year, ACC brought in experts from China to lift output and cut high scrap rates. While not commenting on Stellantis's temporary halts, an ACC spokesperson said the company is ramping production and "honoring the commitments made to our client Stellantis, with module delivery levels that meet their requirements."
Production has been uneven beyond France as well. In recent weeks, some facilities have operated intermittently, among them Melfi in southern Italy, because other components have been in short supply. Last week, the company said it would implement temporary layoffs at Mirafiori, its plant in northern Italy, spanning Oct. 19 through Oct. 30, pointing to elevated local energy costs and softer-than-anticipated demand for the hybrid Fiat 500.
Stellantis shares in Milan fell 3.5% on Tuesday, extending the year-to-date slide to 59%, the poorest showing this year within Europe's Stoxx 600. For everyday investors, this is a clear example of how supply chains, energy prices, and product rollouts can tug directly on output and stock performance. If you are watching the auto space or just shopping for a car, keep in mind how today's fuel spikes can reshape tomorrow's EV availability and pricing.
Keeping a calm, adaptable plan helps shield your savings and capture future gains. Our CEO Jaspreet Singh is hosting a FREE live investor workshop, How to Profit From A Dollar That's Losing its Value, on September 29th. Sign up free to join him live.
