Fiat has reopened production lines at the Sevel plant in Italy, which produces the Ducato, Boxer and Jumper/Relay vans under a joint venture with PSA Group.

FCA’s new health and safety measures at Sevel include maintaining a minimum distance of one metre between individuals

Work at the plant has been resumed along with R&D activities and pre-series production of electric and hybrid models in Turin and Melfi, and is being backed by a variety of health and safety protocols for employees; most of the 6,000-plus staff at Sevel have returned.

New measures include checking the temperature of anyone entering the premises while all employees have been given a personal kit containing surgical masks and gloves (which will be replaced daily), as well as a pair of safety glasses to be worn when cleaning their individual workstation.

Fiat has also reconfigured production and office areas to increase a minimum of one metre distancing between workers, and undertaken sanitisation of workshop floor and installation of around 130 hand sanitiser dispensers while over 600 points have been equipped with disinfectant materials for employees to clean the equipment they use during their shift. An extensive employee communication programme has also been implemented, including instructions on how to recognise and respond to Covid-19 symptoms and preventive measures to be taken in an emergency.

FCA has also restarted limited activities at the plants in Cassino, Pomigliano, Termoli and Mirafiori in connection with components supply for the Sevel plant.

Pietro Gorlier, COO for FCA’s EMEA region, said: “We have been working daily with the Italian government and local authorities to prepare for a return to production in Italy, while ensuring there is no compromise to the safety of anyone working at any of our production facilities or offices.”