MILAN, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Stellantis ( STLA ) will

next month suspend activities at some assembly and engine plants

in Italy, including for the Fiat Panda city car, in response to

tough market conditions, the automaker said on Wednesday.

The planned stoppages will affect the Pomigliano d'Arco,

Termoli and Pratola Serra factories on several days during the

Nov. 11-29 period, Stellantis Italy said in a statement, adding

it had informed trade unions.

Stellantis ( STLA ) is facing industry-wide challenges such as low

demand for more expensive electric vehicles and competition from

China. It is also grappling with excess U.S. inventories that

have led it to cut profit and cash-flow forecasts.

In Italy, it has already suspended production at the

historic Mirafiori plant in Turin, which makes the electric Fiat

500 city car and two Maserati sports cars, until Nov. 1.

In its statement on Wednesday, the Franco-Italian-American

group said it was determined to "ensure the continuity" of its

Italian operations, but noted it was facing "a challenging path

requiring difficult choices and offering no easy solutions."