Fiat SpA (F)’s Serbian factory expects to deliver 110,000 to 150,000 vehicles this year after six-month orders through February exceeded the target, said Antonio Cesare Ferrara, head of Fiat Automobili Srbija.
Fiat took orders for more than 40,000 cars from September to February as it continued to roll out variants of the 500L model, including with diesel engines, right-side driving and a U.S. version, Ferrara said. An SUV and a seven-seat option of the 500L are planned for April and May, he said.
“We’re a little bit above the target,” Ferrara told reporters in Belgrade today. Fiat will continue investing in its car-making joint venture with the Serbian government and add more than 600 jobs to the workforce of 2,500, he said.
FAS ships cars mostly to western Europe and may get customs-free access to the Russian market if Serbia persuades Russia to expand their free-trade arrangement to include vehicles.
“Production will grow if we are able to sell this car in Russia” without customs, Ferrara said.
Source Bloomberg