Three “Grande Panda” models being produced in Kragujevac – Citroen C3 hybrid also planned

The Stellantis automobile factory in Kragujevac has started production of the “Grande Panda” with a gasoline engine in a smaller series that has already been sold to customers, the president of the factory’s Independent Trade Union, Ivan Ristic, told Beta. The factory employs more than 3,000 workers in three shifts.

According to Ristic, the Stellantis factory produces three “Grande Panda” models - electric, hybrid and the one with a gasoline engine.

He noted that the leading model in production was the hybrid “Grande Panda.”

– The Citroen C3 electric is also being produced in small series, and it is expected, according to some announcements, that there will also be a hybrid – said Ristic.

He assessed that the basic model of the Kragujevac factory was the “Grande Panda,” and that the Citroen is being produced as an auxiliary to the factory in Slovakia.

According to Ristic, there are problems with suppliers from abroad, “supply chains are breaking” and some parts are missing, but he does not know the reasons.

– We have a big problem with logistics and with trucks. While the factory was operating within Fiat, there was a central warehouse and it had its own internal logistics. Parts were unloaded there and distributed to the lines. Now, Stellantis has a different production method and parts go directly to the line, so we have a problem with downtime – said Ristic.

He describes the situation as “chaotic” but says that it has “stabilized somewhat” at the moment.

Dozens of trucks were also parked along nearby roads leading to the factory, so after citizens reacted, the police were involved in restoring order.

– The number of trucks coming in and out of the factory has increased significantly, there are more than 300 of them every day. While Fiat was there, the railway was also used, but now parts are transported exclusively by trucks, and only cars go by train to the Port of Bar – said Ristic.

Unlike Fiat, which in Kragujevac produced and exported only finished products, cars, now in addition to vehicles, Stellantis also produces small body parts for the Citroen C3 in Slovakia, and semi-finished products from the press shop are also exported.

This means that there are now a significantly larger number of trucks waiting to be loaded.

– The state has taken on the obligation, as has the city of Kragujevac, to provide access to the factory, but nothing has been done, starting with the bypass – Ristic pointed out.

He stated that the only entrance for trucks was at “Zvezda,” where there was also a customs parking lot, and a number of vehicles exited at Erdec.

According to Ristic, the free customs zone in Grosnica does not have enough capacity for about 100 trucks.

– It is necessary to complete the bypass around Kragujevac, but also to solve the problem of parking for trucks coming to the factory – he said.

FCA Srbija Kragujevac

Stellantis

Independent Union

Ivan Ristić

Grande Panda