Cars from Kragujevac dominant in Serbian exports – Sales value reaches EUR 2.8 billion

Car exports from Serbia in the first six months of 2026 reached a value of approximately EUR 2.8 billion, marking a 51.1% increase compared to the same period last year.

According to data from the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, the automotive industry accounted for the highest individual value among export sectors. Stellantis, based in Kragujevac, made the largest contribution to this result, with the Fiat Grande Panda model emerging as a key driver of exports, particularly to the European Union market.

Strong buyer interest across Europe has also led to increased production at the Kragujevac plant. Unofficial reports indicate that production volume has more than doubled since the beginning of 2026, when the daily output was around 200 vehicles.

Bojan Stanic of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia assessed the automotive industry’s progress as highly significant for the domestic economy. He noted that automobiles had become one of Serbia’s most important export products, contributing to a reduction in the foreign trade deficit.

Stanic also highlighted the plant’s importance for local suppliers, workers, and engineers. According to him, Serbia is recognized as a favorable investment destination capable of executing major investments and manufacturing high-quality vehicles. He added that Serbia hosted the only plant of that magnitude in that part of the Western Balkans.

One of the reasons for buyer interest in the Grande Panda model is its pricing. The petrol version costs EUR 15,490, the hybrid model EUR 17,640, while the electric version is priced at EUR 24,990.

Stanic noted that buyers in the European Union, like consumers in other markets, were price-conscious. He added that vehicles produced in Kragujevac could on price with cheaper Chinese cars, whereas production within Europe was significantly more expensive, which impacted the final retail price. He sees this as an opportunity for the domestic automotive industry.

Ivan Ristic, president of the “Fiat Automobiles Serbia” Autonomous Trade Union, stated that production operations in Kragujevac were being adjusted to match order volumes. The factory continues to operate in three shifts, with additional weekend shifts introduced to ensure there is no downtime in production.

Due to the increased workload and the factory’s strong performance, employees also expect wage increases. Ristic announced that the collective agreement was to expire in early December 2026, after which negotiations regarding a new agreement and salary increases would begin.

He expressed the view that the factory’s improved results, driving the bulk of exports, should be reflected in the workers’ financial standing. He noted that the union would present its demands, with the final outcome depending on the employer.

Export growth has also been recorded in other sectors. Rubber and plastic products recorded an 8.5 percent increase, with their export value exceeding 1.5 billion euros. Exports of basic metals and electrical equipment were of approximately the same value.

Food products ranked fifth in terms of value within the total exports of the manufacturing industry. This sector accounted for 8.3 percent, with exports valued at 1.5 billion euros.

Republički zavod za statistiku Beograd

FCA Srbija doo Kragujevac

Privredna komora Srbije

Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia

Stellantis Kragujevac

Fiat Automobiles Kragujevac

Fiat Automobiles Serbia Autonomous Trade Union

Chamber of Commerce of Serbia

CCIS

Bojan Stanić

Ivan Ristić

export of cars

car production Kragujevac