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Termoli to make 300,000 eDCTs per year

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Stellantis ( STLA )-led JV ACC paused Italy, Germany gigafactories

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ACC to decide on Italy, Germany plants 'not before June'

(Recasts after Stellantis ( STLA ) release confirming news, adds detail

throughout)

MILAN, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Stellantis ( STLA ) said on

Monday it would make dual-clutch transmissions for hybrid

vehicles at its Termoli plant in Southern Italy, which its joint

venture ACC has earmarked for the creation of an electric

vehicle battery-making hub.

The Termoli plant, which currently makes engines, is one of

three sites in Europe where Stellantis ( STLA )-led ACC has announced

plans to create EV battery-making gigafactories.

While a gigafactory in France has already started

operations, plans for two similar facilities in Italy and

Germany were officially paused last year, as ACC was switching

to lower cost batteries amid slowing demand for EVs.

A spokesperson for ACC - which also has Mercedes

and TotalEnergies as shareholders - said on Monday the

JV was still assessing its investment plans for Italy and

Germany with an aim to take a decision within this year, but not

before June.

Stellantis' ( STLA ) announcement on Termoli does not change the

ongoing situation, the spokesperson added.

Earlier this month the CEO of TotalEnergies, which owns a

25% stake in ACC, said the JV should focus its efforts just on

the French plant, signaling the plans for the Italian and German

gigafactories could be eventually scrapped.

Stellantis ( STLA ) said in a statement on Monday it will produce

electrified dual clutch transmissions (eDCT), a key component

for hybrid vehicles, in Termoli. It made no reference to ACC's

plans for the plant.

"With a target of three hundred thousand units per year,

Termoli becomes Stellantis' ( STLA ) third production hub for this

sophisticated transmission," the company said.

The automaker already makes eDCTs in Mirafiori, Italy, and

Metz, France.

Stellantis ( STLA ) also said on Monday it would increase production

levels for key components needed to support increased eDCT

output at its plants in Sint Truiden, Belgium, and in Metz.

It added it would also install a new assembly line for the

components in Metz.

Stellantis ( STLA ), the world's fourth largest carmaker, currently

has a separate plan with Chinese battery maker CATL

to build a 4.1 billion euro ($4.3 billion) gigafactory in Spain.

($1 = 0.9537 euros)