FIOM's Landini warns Italy losing auto production sector

(ANSA) - Rome, December 16 - Italy is at risk of losing its auto sector, an important part of the national economy, as more manufacturing jobs are being moved out of the country, said the head of the national metalworkers union.
    Maurizio Landini said the FIOM union has collected data showing that auto production in 2013 by Italy's leading carmaker Fiat was at less than half of the levels of production recorded in 2007.
    To illustrate his point, he said that only 46.4% of the same auto made in 2007 was produced last year.
    Yet other European nations continue a strong auto sector tradition, said Landini.
    Germany led the way, producing 175% of the number of autos last year as in 2007 while France last year produced 79% as many autos as in 2007 and in the United Kingdom, the level was 61%, he said.