Marchionne to Unveil Plan to Make Fiat, Jeep SUVs in Italy

Fiat SpA says CEO Sergio Marchionne and Chairman John Elkann will disclose details on Dec. 20 of its plan to produce Fiat and Jeep SUVs at its factory in Melfi, Italy.

Fiat's restructuring plan includes building models for affiliate Chrysler Group's brands at the Italian carmaker's underutilized domestic factories.

The Melfi project would mark the end of the freeze on new investments in Italy that Fiat imposed last summer because of the international economic crisis and plunging sales in Europe.

That action delayed the retooling of the company's assembly plant in Mirafiori, Italy, which was scheduled to begin building the Fiat 500X small crossover vehicle by late 2013. The replacement for the Jeep Compass and Patriot crossovers was slated to follow in 2014.

Rome-based newspaper Il Messaggero said in October that Fiat now plans to make those models in Melfi instead. The company called the report "groundless." But media outlets say next week's Melfi announcement will involve the 500X and its Jeep variant.