n n n ‘. concat(e. i18n. t(“search. voice. recognition_retry”),’n
(Adds quotes from Urso, background)
ROME, Dec 20 (Reuters) – Italy’s government is bidding to inspire other major carmakers, as well as Fiat owner Stellantis, to produce in the country and increase production, Industry Minister Adolfo said on Wednesday Urso.
Speaking in Parliament, Urso reiterated that Rome aims to strike a deal with Stellantis to increase annual domestic production of cars and vans to 1 million vehicles by 2028.
“(Italy) deserves more than a car manufacturer,” Urso said, adding that government officials had contacted major foreign automakers with a view to setting up factories in the country.
“With some of them we are in technical discussions about where to build new plants,” he said.
Two sources familiar with the matter said the government is in contact with electric carmaker Tesla and an unspecified Chinese automaker.
Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla, attended a meeting of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome last weekend.
Total production in Italy is expected to exceed 500,000 passenger cars this year and more than 1. 5 million vehicles are registered in the country.
Stellantis, whose other brands include Alfa Romeo and Maserati, is Italy’s leading automaker. (Reporting by Osmond Leslie Adler)