Moroccan Workers Brought In To Boost Fiat Grande Panda Production In Serbia

When Stellantis set out to launch the new Fiat Grande Panda in Serbia, the company knew the small-car project was a big deal. The Grande Panda, built on Stellantis Smart Car platform, is supposed to lead a new generation of affordable and practical vehicles for the FIAT brand. But while the car is ready, the workforce in Serbia hasn’t been enough to keep up with Stellantis’ production goals.

The Kragujevac Assembly Plant, a major industrial site in central Serbia, has been running short on manpower. Even with around 2,800 employees on the ground, the plant has struggled to meet the target of building 500 cars per day. Right now, only about 350 Fiat Grande Pandas are rolling off the line on two daily shifts. To help close that gap, Stellantis has started bringing in workers from other countries.

Moroccan Reinforcements – 

The latest group to arrive comes from Morocco. Roughly 200 Moroccan workers landed in Serbia at the end of September, joining another 100 who had already been recruited in August. Their job is to strengthen the assembly line and prepare for the launch of a third, overnight shift that could finally push production toward the 500-unit goal.

By early October, Stellantis expects a total of 300 Moroccan employees to be on site, giving the plant the manpower needed to go around the clock. For Stellantis, this is a fast, affordable way to get things moving—especially since many local Serbian workers have been hesitant to take the factory jobs, which pay around €600 (about $650) per month.

Italian Expertise – 

The Moroccans won’t be left on their own. Stellantis has also sent in reinforcements from Italy. About 150 Italian employees have temporarily relocated to Serbia from Pomigliano d’Arco, Melfi, and Atessa. Their role is to train and supervise the new recruits, helping ensure the ramp-up process doesn’t hurt quality.

In practice, that means Italian technicians are working shoulder-to-shoulder with Moroccan and Serbian employees on the floor, smoothing out production issues and making sure the Grande Panda hits Stellantis’ standards. Without their support, the transition to three shifts would likely be much more difficult.

Serbia Gears Up, Europe Slows Down – 

What makes the situation in Serbia stand out is the contrast with the rest of Stellantis’ European operations. While Kragujevac is working to add shifts, several other Stellantis plants are slowing down.

• In Pomigliano d’Arco, Italy, the classic Fiat Panda line is being idled for a week, and the Alfa Romeo Tonale line will be shut for two weeks.

• In Poissy, France, about 2,000 employees will face short-time working between mid-October and early November.

• In Madrid, Spain, Stellantis has also announced 14 days of reduced working hours.

So, while factories in Western Europe are hitting the brakes due to softening demand, Serbia is hitting the accelerator. Stellantis clearly views the Grande Panda as a critical product for the FIAT lineup, one worth pushing forward even if it means importing workers to make it happen.

Why It Matters – 

The Grande Panda is not just another compact hatchback. It’s the first of a new “family” of Fiat models expected to target budget-conscious buyers across Europe and beyond. In an era where car prices are climbing, Stellantis is banking on Fiat’s long history of building small, affordable cars to carve out a niche.

But to succeed, Stellantis needs volume. The more Pandas it builds, the cheaper it becomes to spread costs across each car. That’s why hitting the 500-per-day production target is so important. It ensures Stellantis can deliver cars quickly to markets while keeping the sticker price low enough to appeal to buyers.

Looking Ahead – 

If Stellantis manages to stabilize three full shifts in Kragujevac, the plant could finally reach its planned rhythm of 500 units per day. For a country like Serbia, that would be a major industrial success story. For Stellantis, it’s a way to prove the Grande Panda can be a truly global car, built at scale and ready to compete in tough markets.

Whether the move will sit well with the local workforce remains to be seen. Some Serbians have expressed resentment toward foreign laborers being brought in. But from Stellantis’ perspective, the extra help is simply what’s needed to get the job done.

For now, the arrival of Moroccan and Italian workers marks a turning point. Serbia’s plant is about to go 24/7, and the Grande Panda’s future depends on it.

Source: ItalPassion