Stellantis Group approves all its manufacturing stages
father-in-law
The international automobile group “Stellantis” has approved all the technical and industrial stages that precede the official launch of the production of the “Fiat Grande Panda” car at the Tafraoui factory in Oran, confirming that the official launch of this new model, which is the first of its kind in Algeria, according to the “CCAD” system, and the beginning of its marketing is imminent.
In this context, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of “Fiat Algeria”, Rawi Baji, revealed during a presentation he gave on Tuesday, at the “Ralph” Hotel in the capital, Algiers, as part of the activities presenting the new global strategy of the “Stellantis” group until the year 2030 and its implications for the Middle East and Africa region, in which the Director of Operations for the Middle East and Africa region at “Stellantis”, Samir Cherfan, participated via teleconference technology, that the factory is not limited to meeting the needs of the local market only, but It is also moving towards building an Algerian industrial base capable of exporting vehicles and spare parts to African markets in the future.
The spokesman considered that Algeria possesses the qualifications that allow it to transform into a regional industrial center in the automotive sector in the coming years, noting that the factory has actually begun to gradually raise the pace of production after completing all the required quality tests. He explained that the factory has obtained final approval from the group that allows the start of full production, provided that the official launch of this new model will be announced very soon.
The spokesman pointed out that the importance of this stage lies in the fact that the “Fiat Grande Panda” is the group’s first car in Algeria to be manufactured based on locally produced components since the launch of the project, such as seats and interior equipment, as well as welding and paint, explaining that this option imposed from the beginning reliance on Algerian suppliers without resorting to alternative import solutions.
The Fiat official explained that the Fiat Doblo, a utilitarian tourist model, will soon be produced at the Oran factory according to the CKD system as well, meaning that the bodies will also be welded and painted at the Tafraoui facility.
The same official revealed that the project currently relies on a network that includes about 15 local suppliers, between institutions that have entered the accreditation stage and others that are still undergoing technical qualification processes, stressing that the success of the project was linked to the ability of these institutions to keep up with the factory requirements and respect international quality standards approved by the group.
Baji explained that the group is working in parallel to develop the after-sales services system, noting that its maintenance centers will operate according to a multi-brand system, allowing the provision of maintenance services for various vehicles present in the national market, and not just Fiat cars.
He added that the company has also begun implementing a parallel plan to develop local integration in the after-sales services sector, by localizing the production of a number of consumer components such as batteries and filters, in light of the presence of approximately seven million vehicles in Algeria that periodically need maintenance services and spare parts.
For his part, Samir Cherfan, Director of Operations for the Middle East and Africa at Stellantis, confirmed on the same occasion that Algeria has today become one of the main markets in the group’s industrial strategy, indicating that the company is betting on expanding local manufacturing and deepening industrial integration in order to reduce costs and enhance competitiveness.
Cherfan explained that the group aims to raise the percentage of vehicles produced within the region or directed from competitive regional markets from thirty percent currently to ninety percent by the year 2028, stressing that Algeria will be one of the most prominent countries concerned with this new industrial plan.
The official pointed out that “Stellantis” is currently working with dozens of local suppliers in Algeria as part of a plan to develop an integrated industrial system, which includes sectors such as tires, glass, electrical wires, and other value-added components, while accompanying Algerian institutions to raise their technical and production capabilities.
Cherfan stressed that the group’s goal is not limited to meeting the needs of the local market only, but is also moving towards building an Algerian industrial base capable of exporting vehicles and spare parts to African markets in the future, considering that Algeria possesses qualifications that allow it to transform into a regional industrial center in the automotive sector in the coming years.
