Osaka, July 7, 2025 – At the Italy Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Italian company DR Automobiles announced a new 50 million euro investment for the production site in Macchia d’Isernia (IS). The industrial plan will see hiring for 300 positions as part of a revamping project for historic and iconic Italian brands, including the creation of new vehicles for the premium segment.
The industrial project was presented by Antonella Tortola, CEO of DR Automobiles, during the “INVESTING IN MOLISE” event organized by the Molise Region, in collaboration with the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy and DR Automobiles, held at the Italy Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka. Present was Atsushi Ota, Director of Chori Machinery Co., Ltd., a Japanese company that illustrated the history of the relationship established with DR Automobiles in the Molise territory and representative of the virtuous synergies between Italy and Japan.
After institutional greetings from Mario Vattani, General Commissioner for Italy at Expo 2025 Osaka, and the President of the Molise Regional Council, Quintino Pallante, the event was opened by Andrea di Lucente as Vice President and Regional Minister for Economic Development, Production Activities and Business Internationalization of the Molise Region, who illustrated the Region’s role in attracting foreign investments to the territory and the regional location offering. Riccardo Scarpulla, Director of the Investment Attraction and Unblocking Mission Unit of the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy, then illustrated the regulatory reforms, initiatives, and services promoted by the Ministry, aimed at enhancing and promoting foreign investments in Italy, while highlighting the significant presence of Japanese companies already established in the country.
“We are here at the Italy Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka to present, in synergy with the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy, with Invitalia, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and with ICE Agency for the promotion abroad and internationalization of companies, the extraordinary opportunities offered by our territory. With instruments such as the Regional Development Contract, the underdeveloped areas fund (FSC), the Internal Areas Fund and the resources of the PNRR and the ERDF ESF Programming 2021-2027, we are building a real architecture of initiatives that are not limited to distributing funds, but that guide and accompany long-term business projects. The launch of an important operation with the EIB, European Investment Bank, will also make it easier to issue loans to companies that want to come and invest in Molise,” declared Andrea di Lucente, Vice President and Regional Minister for Economic Development, Production Activities and Business Internationalization of the Molise Region.
“We are pleased that the Italy Pavilion serves as the backdrop for this important announcement, which testifies to the quality and attractiveness of our territories in the eyes of Japanese investors,” declared Mario Vattani, General Commissioner for Italy at Expo 2025 Osaka. “Molise today represents a concrete example of revival and innovation, in line with growth diplomacy and with the priorities identified in the Italy-Japan Action Plan 2024-2027, inspired by the strategic partnership between Italy and Japan.”
“Participating in the ‘INVESTING IN MOLISE’ event, organized by the Molise Region and MIMIT at the Italy Pavilion of Expo 2025 in Osaka, was an immense honor and privilege for us at DR Automobiles. Telling the story of the extraordinary partnership that we have built in Italy since the early 2000s was a truly special moment. We want to continue being a growth engine and an example of sustainability for the country. Our investment in Italy and in Molise is based on the firm conviction that there are all the necessary conditions to continue growing. We want to be part of this change,” echoed Antonella Tortola, CEO of DR Automobiles.
At the base of the project is the complete assembly of cars in Molise using an important percentage of components from the Italian automotive supply chain.
The increase in workforce at the Macchia d’Isernia headquarters, estimated at about 300 new direct positions, aims to have a strong socio-economic impact for the entire central-southern Italy area through the involvement of the automotive supply chain that has historically been strongly rooted in the territory.
