Stellantis French plant shutdown October

Stellantis will halt output at four French plants in October due to a long-range EV battery shortage and slower demand for some models. The automaker announced the temporary suspensions on Tuesday 29 September, affecting its facilities in Sochaux, Rennes, Mulhouse, and Poissy for periods ranging from five to fifteen days.

The historic Peugeot plant in Sochaux, which builds upmarket SUVs like the 3008 and 5008, will be idle from 23 to 30 October. Production of the Citroën C5 Aircross at Rennes will pause from 22 to 30 October. The Mulhouse plant faces a fifteen-day stoppage from 15 to 30 October, while the Poissy plant near Paris will close from 19 to 23 October.

Battery shortage and demand issues drive the stoppages

The production pauses are due to a long-range EV battery shortage and slower-than-anticipated demand for models such as the Peugeot 308. Stellantis said it is temporarily adjusting production to remain aligned with market demand and avoid building up stocks of vehicles that do not match customer needs.

The shortage particularly affects the Citroën C5 Aircross, whose long-range version is being introduced in several markets. Demand for longer-range EV trims, especially from corporate fleets, is outstripping current supply. Battery packs come from Automotive Cells Company (ACC). Stellantis has long faced a shortage of these components and framed the stoppage as a scheduling move to avoid building the 'wrong' mix of cars.

ACC’s role and Stellantis’ broader EV strategy

ACC, a joint venture backed by Mercedes-Benz Group and TotalEnergies, is ramping production to meet Stellantis’ needs. An ACC representative said, "the company is ramping up production and is honouring the commitments made to our client Stellantis, with module delivery levels that meet their requirements." The company stated its September module output will be close to what it expects to produce across all of 2025.

Meanwhile, Stellantis is advancing its broader EV strategy. In May, it unveiled plans to build EVs under China's Dongfeng luxury brand Voyah at Rennes as part of a broader European joint venture. Mulhouse is set to receive 400 million euros as part of a one-billion-euro French investment package announced in June. Starting in 2029, Stellantis intends to assemble three new models at Mulhouse, comprising saloons and compact SUVs. This plan is meant to secure the future of the plant, which began operating nearly sixty years ago.

Operational and labour implications of the shutdowns

The CGT union criticised the use of short-time working during the pauses. It argued that if fewer vehicles are being built, the workforce including agency staff should be retained, line speeds reduced, and the occasion used to improve working conditions and provide employee training.

Stellantis described the move at Poissy as a way to align output with market demand under a finely tuned stock management approach. The company had previously said it would cease building its electric vehicle at Poissy by 2028, shifting the site to parts production, recycling, and vehicle preparation. When plants go quiet, staffing, utilities, and depreciation costs continue while fewer vehicles are produced. This can pull down near-term deliveries and make profits wobblier.

Stellantis intends to assemble three new models at Mulhouse starting in 2029, comprising saloons and compact SUVs, as part of a plan to secure the plant’s future.