Kragujevac to make Sedan first - Fiat's management announced business plan prior to end of 2014

The first new model of car that will be manufactured in Fiat Automobili Srbija in Kragujevac will, most probably, be a smaller limousine - sedan (a vehicle of B class or segment), of which code in Fiat's development plans is "342".

Fiat's CEO Sergio Marchione announced the five-year business plan of the Italian company the night before yesterday (April 21, 2010) and, on that occasion, he did not specify which concrete model would be assembled in the units in Kragujevac, but it could have been concluded from what he said that the car is a sedan.

Namely, Marchione announced that Fiat would first launch new version of Panda in 2011, as well as a new SUV. Panda will be produced only in the factory in Brazil, so that Serbia is not an option in that case. Three new models should be launched in 2012 - Supermini, which would replace Uno, MPV car with seven seats, and Sedan. It was already announced in March that Supermini would be assembled in Italy, which means that the only remaining option for Kragujevac is Sedan because it has been announced that the platform for production of smaller cars will be installed in our country.

As Danas learns, people in Kragujevac expect the production of the first new vehicle to start in the second phase of reconstruction of the unit, that is, in early 2012, which is in accordance with the idea of launching new sedan. Up to 200,000 automobiles per year will be manufactured in the first phase. Depending on the market situation, the production in FAS could grow to 300,000 cars per year prior to 2015.

Fiat announced the plan that includes production of 6m cars per year prior to 2014. Marchione said it was the minimum that was necessary in order for the company to survive. The framework of the plan is separation of automobile from truck, bus and industrial production (agricultural and building machines), which will be moved to new company Fiat Industries. Fiat's new production would start already in 2011, with new Panda and new SUV similar to Dodge Journey. In 2012, Fiat will launch new Supermini (which is expected to be new Uno assembled in Brazil), new compact MPV (with five and seven seats), as well as Sedan of the size of a Jetta. In 2013, Fiat will launch a brand new city car that would replace Seicento, as well as replacements for Punto Evo and Bravo Hatchback.

Lancia-Chrysler should launch a replacement for Lancia Ypsilon and new Grand Voyager MPV in 2011. The innovation in 2012 should be the car of the size of a Golf, shaped as a Sedan and Hatchback. In 2013, these two brands would launch a luxury SUV, while Chrysler would launch a rival to Ford Mondeo in North America. Production of number of Fiat's models will be discontinued by the end of the year, including Chrome Hatchback and Multiple. This year, new Grand Cherokee will be launched, while Wrangler, Patriot and Compass will be redesigned during 2011. New Cherokee will be launched in 2013, as well as another SUV.

Ferrari will launch six new models prior to 2013. Alfa Romeo will have seven new models, while Maserati also works on a new model.