FIAT's most advanced car plant, located in Kragujevac, Republic of Serbia, has been inaugurated in a special ceremony attended by Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic and CEO of FIAT S.p.A. Sergio Marchionne, along with more than 150 political and business dignitaries as well as the plant's employees.
In welcoming the Prime Minister, FIAT CEO Sergio Marchionne paid tribute to Serbia's significant program of modernisation which has created "a dynamic environment that is attractive to foreign investors." Today's opening is the culmination of three years and €1 billion worth of investment at the 1,400,000m² site which included improvements to the surrounding infrastructure; land remediation; plant renovation and the installation of world class production systems.
The Kragujevac plant will produce the new FIAT 500L, which premiered at the Geneva Motor Show in March, for export European and global markets beginning in the last quarter of 2012.
By the end of 2012, some 2,400 people will be employed at the plant with a further 1,000 employed by suppliers at the nearby supplier park. Once fully operational, the plant will have a production capacity of up to 200,000 cars per annum.
