Image: OpelProduction of both models will continue until at least 2028, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed to Reuters. Once production of the DS 3 and Opel Mokka ends, vehicle manufacturing at the Poissy plant near Paris will cease, while the site itself will remain in operation.Stellantis has also committed to investing €100 million in transforming the facility, according to discussions with trade unions.Poissy already produces automotive components that are subsequently assembled into vehicles at other Stellantis plants. The components business will continue and even expand: the announced investment is expected to enable new activities, such as 3D printing of parts and the refurbishment and recycling of used vehicles, according to Reuters. However, details regarding the future number of employees in the components sector and the fate of the existing vehicle production workforce remain unclear.As early as autumn 2024, it was announced that Stellantis plans to relocate production of the next-generation DS 3 E-Tense, due in 2027, from the Poissy plant in France to its facility in Zaragoza, Spain. Additionally, a future Opel electric SUV featuring Leapmotor technology could reportedly be manufactured at the Stellantis plant in Zaragoza.Stellantis faces overcapacity issuesStellantis has long faced overcapacity following the merger of PSA and Fiat Chrysler. The group streamlined its production logic to create synergies between platforms and closely related models. While this has improved efficiency, it has also left several plants underutilised—largely because overall capacity in Europe remains too high. The downturn in demand during the Covid-19 pandemic further exacerbated the issue.The figures illustrate the trend: according to Reuters, the Poissy plant is expected to produce around 68,000 vehicles this year, falling to roughly 65,000 units by 2027. By comparison, output exceeded 145,000 cars in 2023, while at its peak in 1976, the site built around 500,000 vehicles. Employment has also declined significantly, from 27,000 staff in 1976 to around 1,600 today.To better utilise or monetise its existing but underused capacities, Stellantis is reportedly in talks with its Chinese joint venture partner Dongfeng, according to a Bloomberg report. The discussions are said to focus on how Dongfeng could gain access to Stellantis’s unused production capacities in Europe, while also exploring the possibility of manufacturing certain Stellantis models at Dongfeng’s facilities in China. Dongfeng could accelerate its European market entry and circumvent EU tariffs by producing at Stellantis plants or even acquiring an entire facility. Rumours of similar discussions between Stellantis and Xiaomi or Xpeng first emerged in March.With the now-announced phase-out of vehicle production in Poissy over the coming years, the French plant could theoretically be well-suited for such a deal—though this has not yet been confirmed. In addition to Poissy, Stellantis operates four other vehicle production plants in France.reuters.com