Production of petrol-powered “Grande Panda” begins at FIAT in Kragujevac

While the European auto industry is stagnating, the multinational company Stellanis is stepping up its game at the Kragujevac factory. A year and a half ago, there were 1,000 workers, today there are three times as many, and now there’s the third version of the “Grande Panda” with a 1.2-liter petrol engine and a six-speed manual transmission.

– Honestly, we expect that the petrol car, which we started to produce, will now be one of the most affordable vehicles in terms of price for our market – says Ivan Ristic, president of the Autonomous Trade Union of Manufacturers of “Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Serbia.”

And that is around EUR 15,500 for the basic model, which is significantly lower than the electric and hybrid versions. The pillars of the Kragujevac factory’s business are high demand, secure sales and expansion of production.

– This will additionally employ capacities and improve both the competitiveness of the Serbian economy and export performance from here in Kragujevac, and therefore the export performance of the entire national economy – assesses economist Professor Petar Veselinovic, PhD.

In 2025, Serbia’s export share was worth USD 30 billion. The automotive industry is the engine of the processing sector, and the auto cluster’s exports are around USD 2 billion. The third shift is the guarantor of increasing that figure.

– I think they have already reached the same level of work as the first two shifts, and it is now in rotation and operating normally. This will increase the number of vehicles produced in our company by a third – explains Ivan Ristic.

It is assumed that the number now is about 500 per day. In addition to the three versions of the “Grande Panda,” the competitiveness of the Kragujevac factory is also increased by the electric “Citroen C3.” They are produced on the same platform and are equally in demand on the market.

– Only now, with the hiring of a third shift and the increase in capacity and the achievement of these technical and project capacities, will it be possible to satisfy the global market, so to speak, and the tendencies are that, in a way, I am sure, sales will expand to other continents, not only to Europe – emphasizes Professor Veselinovic.

And the tendencies are that the “Grande Panda” and “Citroen” families will be expanded with new versions. First of all, with the hybrid model “Citroen C3.” That is why the doors of the Kragujevac factory are still open to new workers.

FCA Srbija Kragujevac

Fiat Serbia

Fiat

Autonomous Trade Union of Manufacturers of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Serbia

Ivan Ristić

Petar Veselinović

Fiat Grande Panda