Italy’s Industry Minister Adolfo Urso said it is open to acquiring a stake in the world’s third largest automaker Stellantis, Reuters reports.

The comment came as Mr Urso laid plans to provide EU950 million in subsides to help drivers switch to EVs.

The automaker and Italy’s Government have previously butted heads over car production levels in the country, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni saying Stellantis “favoured” France, which holds a 6% stake in the firm.

In response to Ms Meloni’s accusation, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said that he does not “always agree with the French government.”

Mr Urso said the automaker had committed to increasing local vehicle production to a million pa, a figure that was last achieved in 2017.

In 2023, the number was approximately 750,000.

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On whether Italy needs to provide active investment in Stellantis, such as France does, “We can discuss it together,” Mr Urso told reporters earlier this week.

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