Spain’s beleaguered car maker Santana has launched new 300 and 350 four-wheel drive models as part of plans to shore up its business.
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The company, the last-remaining Spanish-owned manufacturer, plans to sell 5,000 units of the new cars, a workers committee official told just-auto.
The Santana 300 is a three-door while the longer 350 has five doors, he said. The cars look similar to the Suzuki Jimny, which Santana makes for the Japanese motor group alongside the Vitara.
Santana has won new orders to supply its Anibal 4×4 to the Spanish army and to big customers in Palestine and Morocco, the official added.
He rejected Spanish media reports that Santana is considering building motor caravans and quads (four-wheel motorcycles) to boost its fortunes before its Suzuki contract expires next June.
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By GlobalDataThe official said the company is on track with its restructuring plan which calls for it to diversify its business to become profitable by 2008.
As part of that scheme, Santana has won a contract to make train cars for the CAF industrial group in Spain. The cars will be used in the future Seville subway system.
Santana officials did not immediately return phone calls.
The company, owned by the Andalusian government, makes about 24,000 cars a year and lost €31 million in 2004.
Ivan Castano
