A missing chip is holding back two of Fiat's most important cars in Italy. Stellantis said on Nov. 2 that a shortage of a chip used in the control unit of the N3 GSE engine had already cut production of some Fiat models, and that the effects could continue in November and December, Milano Finanza reports. The N3 is a three-cylinder engine built at Termoli. It powers both the Fiat Pandina and the new Fiat 500 Hybrid.
Which plants are affected
- Pomigliano d'Arco: builds the Pandina. Milano Finanza notes it was Italy's best-selling car in the first nine months of 2026. Askanews says Stellantis does not rule out further stops there.
- Mirafiori (Turin): builds the 500 Hybrid, which started production at the end of 2025. Askanews reports the plant was idle for lack of orders in the last two weeks of October and is stopped this week because the engine control units are missing.
- Termoli: the engine plant. Stellantis warns that temporary pauses «may become necessary» at component plants such as Termoli too, according to askanews (translated from Italian).
Who is the supplier?
Askanews reported, citing people following the situation, that Marelli is the supplier that has not delivered the control units in recent weeks. Milano Finanza says its own sources confirm this, and that Marelli is itself short of chips from one of its partners. Neither Stellantis nor Marelli commented to either outlet.
Stellantis says it is working «with the highest priority to find alternative solutions» (translated from Italian), askanews reports. Milano Finanza adds that the company is looking for other sources of supply to restore production step by step.