Trial production of electric model of Fiat Grande Panda car begins in Kragujevac

FCA Serbia has commenced the trial production of the electric model of the Fiat Grande Panda car at the Stellantis factory in Kragujevac, whereas the beginning of the serial production is planned in two months. The ceremony was attended by the president of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, and the CEO of Stellantis, Carlos Tavares.

At the factory complex, Vucic was presented the new car model, by which he then drove to the head office building of the company.

– This is a big day for Serbia and Sumadija, for the whole Serbia. This will be a big thing for our GDP. I feel that this will be a great and successful model – estimated Vucic.

He said that the representatives of Stellantis had shown the passion and desire to fight for their company’s success.

– We all succeeded together, after the difficult talks and strikes in the factory in Kragujevac. We are preparing for a new car model, some new Grande Fiat, that is the future of the factory and Serbia’s success – pointed out Vucic.

As he added, it should be an obligation of the state services and local companies, when they’re getting a new car, to make it a vehicle from Kragujevac.

– We are late with installing electric charger stations. In five years, in Europe, there will be no other cars other than electric ones. We have to head toward the changes, because we are the only ones in this part of the Balkans to produce electric cars – pointed out Vucic.

According to him, the state gave Stellantis a subsidy of EUR 48 million for the production of electric cars, and that production will contribute to a GDP growth of 0.5% next year.

Carlos Tavares said that the obligation of Stellantis was to write another chapter of Fiat’s operations in Serbia.

He said that Chinese producers had a 30% lower price of cars, due to the lower costs of production, but that the task of Stellantis was to attract customers with quality and innovations.

Silvia Vernetti, the general manager of the Kragujevac factory, said that that day marked a turning point in the company’s operations.

– The new model will help Serbia on its way to a sustainable production of such cars – she said.

The model is made in two versions – electric and hybrid, and the plan is for it to be placed on the market of Europe, and then in the Middle East and Africa too.

The car which will be made in Kragujevac belongs to B-segment cars, below four meters in length, and is the first in the range of the models of a new family of cars which will get a new model every year, all the way until 2027.

FCA Srbija Kragujevac

Fiat

Stellantis

FCA Serbia

Aleksandar Vučić

Carlos Tavares

Silvia Vernetti

Fiat Grande Panda

Citroen