TURIN, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Stellantis ( STLA ) has

already taken measures and is working hard to avoid the risk of

plant closures, as recently announced by rival Volkswagen

, the carmaker's CEO Carlos Tavares said on Tuesday.

"We have done many unpopular things over the last few years

to avoid as much as possible" a situation similar to

Volkswagen, Tavares said.

"We have been criticised for that, for taking decisions

which were ... not always well understood," Tavares said, adding

the key was to sell EV cars at the same prices as traditional

petrol models.

Earlier this month Europe's largest automaker Volkswagen

announced it was considering for the first time in

its history to close factories in home country Germany.