The production of Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio is about to take an unusual turn. Stellantis plans to move the assembly of these models from a traditional high-volume line to a low-volume, more artisanal process, similar to how Ferrari handles its cars.
Shift to Slower, More Manual Assembly
At the Cassino plant in Italy, where the Giulia and Stelvio are made, the approach will change drastically. Instead of producing hundreds of cars per shift on a fast-moving assembly line, the process will slow down. Workers will focus more on manual tasks and spend more time on each vehicle. This change means fewer cars will be built, with greater care given to each one.
Workers must also retrain to adapt to this new style of production. The method resembles Ferrari’s small-batch luxury manufacturing, giving the final Giulia and Stelvio models a more exclusive character. Production under this system is expected to continue until the end of 2027, ahead of new model introductions.
Declining Volumes Drive the Change
While the artisanal comparison sounds appealing, the shift mainly reflects lower production demand. In 2017, the Cassino plant made over 135,000 cars, but by 2025, output had dropped sharply to fewer than 20,000—a decline of nearly 86%. The first half of 2026 continued this trend, with only about 6,700 vehicles built in total.
Such low volumes have influenced the decision to abandon high-speed mass production. The plant operated just 45 days out of 203 in the first half of 2026, and many workers faced reduced hours under solidarity contracts.
Space Freed for Maserati Models
The move also clears the current Building 2, where Giulia and Stelvio were assembled, to make room for additional Maserati production. The exact Maserati models to be produced there have not been confirmed yet.
For the Giulia and Stelvio, the final phase of production will be marked by this shift to nearly handcrafted assembly, setting these last cars apart from the previous mass-produced versions.
Source: italpassion.fr