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The FCA Serbia company launched a trial production run of the Fiat Grande Panda electric vehicle at the Stellantis factory in Kragujevac, while the model's serial production is planned to begin in two months.
Among the guests at the launch ceremony were Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares. Stellantis is the majority owner of the automotive factory in Kragujevac.
"This is a great day for Serbia and Sumadija -- for all of Serbia. This will be a big deal for our GDP," Vucic said, adding that Serbia was the only country in this part of the Balkans producing electric cars, but that it was behind in setting up electric charger stations.
According to him, the state subsidized electric car production by Stellantis with EUR48 million -- production that will contribute to 0.5 percent gross domestic product growth next year.
Tavares said it was Stellantis' obligation to write another chapter in Fiat's operation in Serbia. He said Chinese manufacturers' car prices were 30 percent lower due to lower production costs, but that it was Stellantis' job to win buyers over with quality and innovation.
Silvia Vernetti, general manager of the factory in Kragujevac, said the day was a turning point in the company's business and that the new model would help Serbia on the road to sustainable development of the production of similar cars.
The new model will come in two versions -- electric and hybrid, and is intended to be marketed in Europe, followed by the Middle East and Africa.
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