Stellantis Closes Historic Douvrin Plant, Expands Production in Morocco
On October 30, 2026, Stellantis officially closed its historic manufacturing facility located in Douvrin, France, marking the end of an era that spanned 57 years and saw the production of over 52 million engines. This plant was particularly renowned for manufacturing the 1.2-liter PureTech engine, a model that faced reliability issues, causing significant challenges for many drivers. Despite the closure of the Douvrin site, Stellantis has not abandoned its three-cylinder gasoline engine; production has been relocated to two other countries: Hungary and Morocco.
Significant Expansion in Kénitra, Morocco
Far from Douvrin, Stellantis' facility in Kénitra, Morocco, is increasingly becoming a crucial player in the company’s engine production strategy. In July 2025, Stellantis inaugurated a significant expansion of this site, announcing a remarkable increase in its annual engine production capacity from 100,000 to 350,000 units. Since May 2025, the new generation of the 1.2-liter EB2 engine has been assembled in Kénitra, and the company has plans to further enhance this facility's capabilities. Notably, in November 2026, Stellantis is set to commence operations of its machining facilities, which will strengthen the industrial integration of the site. With this expansion, Morocco is poised to become a second key production hub, alongside Hungary, for Stellantis' three-cylinder gasoline engine, coinciding perfectly with the launch of the new Fiat Grizzly, which will be produced at the same plant.
This industrial restructuring occurs at a time when Stellantis is striving to overcome the reliability issues that have plagued the PureTech engine. On October 19, 2026, just eleven days prior to the closure of Douvrin, CEO Antonio Filosa publicly apologized to affected customers for the engine's shortcomings. It is important to distinguish between earlier generations of the PureTech, which were notably criticized for timing belt problems, and the third generation of the EB2 engine, which has undergone extensive technical advancements, including a switch to a timing chain for hybrid versions.
Therefore, the closure of the Douvrin plant does not signify the end of the 1.2-liter engine; rather, it marks the conclusion of its production in France. With operations now firmly established in Hungary and Morocco, Stellantis continues to maintain critical production sites to ensure the ongoing manufacturing of its three-cylinder engine, which remains a vital component in numerous European vehicle models.
As reported by italpassion.fr.
