Fiat's moribund Termini Imerese factory will spring back into life this week as it gears up to start assembling the Lancia Ypsilon model.

The Sicilian plant has been on shutdown since 21st March 2005, for a long 'hibernation' period, with the workforce being laid-off under the guidance of the government's voluntary payment redundancy scheme. Prior to the March shut-down the facility had been threatened by closure several times. This morning around 200 workers returned to Termini Imerese to gear up for a training course that will start on Thursday to familiarise the staff with the Lancia model. (up to the March closure the factory had produced the Fiat Punto model).

The first stage of production will see 40 cars per day being assembled, gradually building up to a target of 380-400 per day. The return to work - for training and the commencement of car production - for the plant's 1,490 workers will be staggered between now and 19th September. Fiat's management expect the plant to reach its full production capacity by 2008 at the latest, with the 2006 forecast being for it to reach 86 percent of full capacity, and 91 percent in 2007.
 

Fiat also commented that this production plan may be accelerated if the model's sales warrant it after a restyling of the model, scheduled for late 2006, or early 2007.

LANCIA STEP UP YPSILON ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN AND OFFER NEW TELEMATICS

The UAU (United Against Ugliness) advertising campaign - devised by agancy Armando Testa for the Lancia Ypsilon - has stepped up a gear with a new series of adverts appearing in Italy on television and billboards, as well as in newspapers and magazines. Meanwhile, Lancia have also been giving away the Tom Tom Go 700 SatNav system away with Ypsilon purchases this summer. Tom Tom Go 700 combines Satellite Navigation capability with Vivaveloce and Bluetooth, offering the driver greater freedom of choice, ease of convenience and functionality.