Stellantis: the Fiat brand lands in Algeria

Stellantis announces the launch of six Fiat models for Algerian customers starting March 21st. They are Fiat 500 Hybrid, Fiat 500X, Fiat Tipo, Fiat Doblò, Fiat Scudo and Fiat Ducato. The announcement took place during a ceremony attended, among others, by Ali Aoun, Minister of Pharmaceutical Industry and Production, Tayeb Zitouni, Minister of Commerce and Exports, the Italian Ambassador to Algeria Giovanni Pugliese , Samir Cherfan, Chief Operating Officer of Stellantis Middle East and Africa and Olivier François, CEO of the Fiat brand.
“Supporting the Fiat project and therefore the development of the automotive ecosystem in Algeria – said Ali Aoun – has a historical symbolic meaning that reflects the long-lasting good relations between the two countries. By joining our efforts, this project will become a point of reference in terms of integrability and complementarity. Currently, we are conducting a study in the factory that will probably open up great horizons to go beyond the primary ambitions”.
This investment phase materializes the automotive specification agreement signed in November 2022 with the Algerian Investment Promotion Agency (AAPI) ratifying the framework agreement signed on October 13, which in turn gave the start of the development of the industrial, after-sales and spare parts activities for FIAT, one of the symbolic brands of Stellantis, and of the automotive sector in Algeria. The first round of investments by Stellantis and its suppliers for the production of the four models will amount to over 200 million euros.
Today, Algeria represents one of the key drivers of Stellantis’ Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan for the Middle East and Africa (MEA). The launch of the FIAT brand will pave the way for realizing Stellantis MEA’s ambition of reaching one million vehicles sold in the region by 2030 with a regional production autonomy of 70% and thereby approaching customer needs.
The construction phase of the Tafraoui-Orano plant will be completed by August 2023 and production of the first Fiat 500 is scheduled for the end of 2023. By 2026, the plant will create nearly 2,000 new jobs on site, achieve a rate of localization greater than 30%, a production capacity of 90,000 vehicles per year and will produce four FIAT models. To guarantee a high level of assistance to Algerian customers, the sales and after-sales network will cover 28 Wilaya in Algeria by the end of 2023.
“The 500 Hybrid will be the first Fiat to be built in Algeria, followed quickly by the Doblò and, in a few years, also by a brand new model (currently still in the hands of our designers). But already today – – he said Olivier François – we are opening orders for the 500 Hybrid and for the two ‘stars for the family’, the Tipo and the 500X, and for our ‘stars of the LCV world’: Ducato, Scudo and Doblò”.

Last October, the Algerian authorities announced the signing of a framework agreement with Fiat for the realization of a project for the production of cars and light commercial vehicles in the province of Oran, in the west of the country.