The commercial success of the Fiat Grande Panda was not long in creating tensions... on the production side. Two months after the start of European orders, which recorded 15,000 units in just a few weeks, the Serbian plant in Kragujevac is struggling to keep pace. As a result, Stellantis has started to send Italian workers to reinforce its workforce.
Strong demand, but production lagging behind
The Serbian site at Kragujevac, co-managed by Stellantis and the Serbian state, was to ensure a gradual ramp-up in production of the Grande Panda, in both electric and hybrid versions. In reality, however, production rates are still a long way from the announced targets. Production currently fluctuates between 80 and 100 vehicles a day, while the group is aiming for around 500 vehicles a day.
Apart from logistical delays and shortages of components, particularly the eDCT gearboxes used for hybrids, the real problem is human: more than 1,000 workers are needed to keep the plant running at full capacity. Despite intensive recruitment campaigns in Serbia, the local workforce is not enough. So Stellantis decided to take action... in Italy.
Italian workers sent to Serbia
Initially, Stellantis proposed to employees of the Maserati plant in Modenapartially shut down, to work temporarily in Serbia. An offer poorly received by some of the staffAs Luigi Cozzolino, a worker for 35 years, testifies, the decision was an "insult" taken without union consultation.
But times are changing, and Stellantis has now extended its proposal to other Italian sites, including Melfi, where production is also in transition. With volumes set to collapse by 64 % in the first quarter of 2025, Melfi has plenty of manpower available. Some employees have therefore agreed to leave for Kragujevac, according to information from the Milano Finanza website.
The proposed conditions: a six-month voluntary secondment, return to Italy possible every 45 days, accommodation and meals provided, and a daily allowance of up to €100. Letters of assignment have already been sent.
It's urgent for Fiat
This is a strategic context for Fiat. The Grande Panda is designed to relaunch the brand on the European market. But without a rapid ramp-up, delivery times could become dangerously long. At the end of February, we were already estimating a six-month wait for any new order. If nothing were to change on the production side, this interval could become even longer, at the risk of dampening initial enthusiasm.
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Well then, it should have been produced in Italy 😂
They can't find the workers in Serbia, that's true, but only because current salary in factory is 600e. No wonder they can't find workers, salary in Chinese factories next to this Fiat factory is higher... So, you want to tell me that they import workers from Italy with all the expenses they may have working in foreign country, and all that for less than 600e monthly per worker? Lol
Then they should have hired them for the Fiat 600e... More seriously, if they lose orders because of the delivery time, that would be appalling. Meanwhile the Italian factories are overcapacity and the workers are unemployed, and now they have to give bonuses to Serbian workers or import Italians, it's grotesque.
It's a good sign for the Fiat takeover. Honestly, the big panda looks great. The good thing is that they've done a real advertising campaign. It's a change from what we've been seeing lately.
The Serbian workers are demonstrating that, as we know, they are incompetent, which is hardly surprising.
Although, I'd like to point out that it's not much better in Turin, my garage has been waiting 6 months for an automatic gearbox for my new jeep avenger hybrid, who can beat that?
Bravo to stellantis, Italy division.
This is not the fault of Italian workers, but of the company's management, which failed to gauge the demand for light hybrid models. The result is under-capacity for gearbox production, leading to late announcements for the Termoli and Mirafiori plants concerning these parts. Generally speaking, there is a problem of coordination or ramp-up of production within the Group, with consequent delays in programs and deliveries (most recently, the Stelvio).
Merhaba, Türkiye ' den yazıyorum FİAT biz otomobil severleri 1-2 yıldır çok üzüyor son olarak FİAT 600 e çok az gönderildi, 600 Hybrid ise urban gibi boş donanım ile geldi FİAT Showroom larında araç bulamıyoruz , duyurulur...
Endlich geht's wieder Bergauf mit den Italiener
Plenty of unemployed immigrants in the UK who could relocate to Serbia for jobs