Speaking at the final Fiat S.p.A. shareholders’ meeting on 31 March, CEO Sergio Marchionne revealed information about the future models to be made at a new Brazilian production plant.
“Start of production at the new Pernambuco plant is expected during the first half of 2015. Initial production capacity will be 200,000 vehicles per year with models based on the Small Wide architecture that will strengthen our offering in the mid-size passenger car segment,” Marchionne stated, adding, “The factory is a world-class production site that is designed to be flexible and expandable. The site will also have an integrated supplier park, as well as product engineering and testing facilities”.
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The plant’s location was originally stated as being at Suape but plans changed and the factory is now being erected at Goiana in Brazil’s northeast. The original capacity of 250,000 cars per annum had also risen to 300,000, the firm announced in September 2011. Production of the first car was originally due to start in late 2014 but both the S.O.P. and initial capacity have clearly been altered. Marchionne’s 31 March statement is also the first time that Fiat has confirmed which vehicle architecture will underpin the plant’s launch model(s).
Information on future vehicles for FCA, and the SUSW architecture in particular can be found in just-auto’s PLDB database.
