MILAN (Reuters) - Automaker Stellantis said on Friday a pause in production of its electric Fiat 500 city car will be extended by another couple of weeks until Jan. 20, confirming the expectations of trade unions.

Car assembly lines at Mirafiori, the historic northern Italian factory where the Fiat 500 is made, have been halted repeatedly this year, with workers temporarily furloughed, due to low European demand for electric vehicles.

The current stoppage began in early December.

In meetings with trade union representatives, the company announced a longer halt in production, until Feb 3, for the two small-volume Maserati sports car models that are also manufactured in Mirafiori.

This week Stellantis ( STLA ) presented to the Italian government an upbeat plan to revitalise its output in Italy, but European operations chief Jean-Philippe Imparato said its effects will not be felt before 2026.

Automotive output in Italy - both passenger cars and vans - is expected to fall below 500,000 vehicles this year, according to estimates from the FIM-Cisl union, from 751,000 in 2023. It would be the lowest level since 1958.