Stellantis aims to produce 500 Fiat Grande Panda per day by recruiting from all over the world

The Fiat Grande Panda continues to dominate the media spotlight. While Stellantis is stepping up production adjustments at its European plants, the Serbian plant in Kragujevac is turning faster and faster. The stated aim is to reach a production rate of 500 vehicles per day. A symbolic figure that the group is still struggling to reach, despite an influx of manpower from... the four corners of the world.

Strong growth in production, but still incomplete

According to Milano Finanza, the Grande Panda has become one of Stellantis' strategic models for Europe. The automaker has announced an 11.5 % increase in European sales in September, largely driven by models using the Smart Car platform, of which the Fiat Grande Panda is one. Orders are soaring, but production is still struggling to keep pace.

In Kragujevac, Serbia, two shifts already produce around 400 cars a day. To break the symbolic 500-unit daily barrier, Stellantis has launched a third night shift, but this is not yet fully operational. To date, it will only be able to produce around forty additional vehicles.

Italian, Moroccan, Nepalese workers...

Faced with a shortage of local workers, and with salaries capping out at around 600 euros a month, Stellantis has implemented a global recruitment strategy.

First, Italian workers from the Pomigliano d'Arco, Melfi and Atessa plants were sent to reinforce the workforce. Around 200 transalpine employees agreed to leave temporarily for Serbia, preferring a full salary and expatriation bonus to short-time working in Italy.

Then 300 Moroccan workers were recruited to start the night shift, with a basic salary of around 300 euros, plus a travel allowance.

But this reinforcement is still not enough. Still according to Milano Finanza, to fill the gaps, Stellantis has embarked on a new phase of recruitment in Asia: a hundred Nepalese workers have already arrived, and others are coming from Bangladesh, India and even Bhutan. In front of the factory, the queues of new arrivals bear witness to an unprecedented phenomenon: production is now driven by a workforce from three continents.

An industrial emergency

This international mobilization reflects the urgency of the moment: the Fiat Grande Panda has become the hope of the future. Fiat's relaunch in Europe. Antonio Filosa, the new boss of Stellantis Europe, is counting on this model to turn the brand around and demonstrate the effectiveness of the low-cost production strategy inherited from Carlos Tavares.

The Grande Panda ticks all the boxes: neo-retro design, hybrid and electric powertrains, and a competitive starting price. But without smooth production, commercial success is likely to be hampered. Stellantis is still aiming for full production by the end of the year, having already postponed this target several times.