Report: Fiat to cut 5,000 jobs

[March 24, 2010]  ROME (AP) -- An Italian newspaper says Fiat will cut 5,000 jobs as part of its new strategic plan.

La Repubblica said Wednesday the cuts include 1,500 workers at the Termini Imerese plant in Sicily, which will stop auto production next year, as well as 15 percent of some 30,000 assembly line workers.

A Fiat spokesman was not immediately available for comment. Fiat is scheduled to release its strategic plan for the years 2010-2014 on April 21.

Repubblica also says the company plans to cut the number of its models from 12 to eight, but increase auto production in Italy by 50 percent. It says Fiat, which sealed an alliance with Chrysler last year, plans to launch and produce in the United States seven models under the Fiat, Lancia and Alfa Romeo brands.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.