Stellantis Turns to Algeria to Build the Fiat Grande Panda

Fiat’s next big move is heading south. Stellantis has officially confirmed that its Oran plant in Algeria will assemble the all-new Fiat Grande Panda starting in December 2025. This strategic decision marks a milestone for the group’s North African industrial expansion and positions Algeria as a critical player in Stellantis’s global manufacturing network.

Key Developments at a Glance:

• The Fiat Grande Panda becomes the fourth model built in Oran, Algeria.
• Spyshots shared by Autobip.com show the Panda’s chassis inside the Oran facility.
• Production begins in December 2025, in the new factory extension.
• The vehicle is based on the Stellantis Smart Car platform.
• It may receive a T-GEN 3 Mild Hybrid 1.2L Turbo engine.
• Hopes for a 1.3L Firefly engine adapted to local fuel conditions may be fading.
• Future production may include other Stellantis models such as the Opel Frontera.

Confirmed: Fiat Grande Panda Assembly Set for Oran

Following the announcement from Mr. Raoui Beji, CEO of Fiat El Djazair, that a fourth model would soon join the Oran assembly line, speculation swirled around what vehicle it could be. That uncertainty ended this week when exclusive leaked photos, shared by Algerian automotive site Autobip.com, revealed the unmistakable body shell of the Fiat Grande Panda within Stellantis’s Oran factory.

Italian business daily Milano Finanza further validated the story, confirming that the production of the Grande Panda is scheduled to begin in December 2025. The new model, internally codenamed F1H, will be assembled in a new extension of the factory currently under construction—a sign of Stellantis’s long-term industrial commitment to Algeria.

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A Flexible Platform for Broader Ambitions

The Grande Panda will be built on Stellantis’s modular Smart Car platform, a shared architecture enabling the production of multiple vehicles from various Stellantis brands on the same line.

This opens the door to industrial diversification in Algeria. Sources indicate that models like the Opel Frontera or the Opel Combo could soon be assembled alongside Fiat’s lineup in Oran. If realized, this would mark Opel’s return to local manufacturing, boosting job creation and brand presence in the Algerian market.

Engine Choices: Between Efficiency and Local Expectations

According to Milano Finanza, the Algerian-market Fiat Grande Panda is expected to use the T-GEN 3 1.2L Mild Hybrid Turbo engine, a new evolution of the well-known PureTech engine. This mild hybrid system promises improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions—aligned with European environmental standards and the group’s electrification strategy.

However, not all consumers are pleased. There was growing hope for the integration of the Firefly 1.3L engine, currently used in Fiat’s Brazilian lineup. Many Algerian drivers consider it better suited to local driving conditions and variable fuel quality. The absence of this engine may raise concerns among buyers prioritizing durability and low-maintenance performance.

Algeria: A Strategic Pillar in Stellantis’s Global Plans

The Grande Panda’s production in Algeria highlights Stellantis’s confidence in the Algerian market and workforce. The plant in Oran is more than just a local production hub—it is becoming a regional center for manufacturing and export, targeting neighboring African and Mediterranean countries.

By investing in flexible assembly lines and scalable production, Stellantis is leveraging Algeria’s geographic and economic advantages to expand its industrial footprint in emerging markets.

A New Era for Fiat and Stellantis in Algeria

Launching the Fiat Grande Panda from Algeria is more than a manufacturing update—it signals the start of a new industrial chapter for Stellantis in North Africa. With the Oran factory undergoing expansion and strategic synergies with other Stellantis brands being explored, Algeria is on track to become a key automotive hub for the group.

Now, attention turns to the market: Will the Panda’s hybrid engine and compact design win over Algerian and regional consumers, especially in a landscape increasingly defined by cost-conscious buyers and rugged driving environments?

Expected Specifications – Fiat Grande Panda (Oran Production)

What This Means for Algeria’s Automotive Future

The confirmation of the Grande Panda’s assembly in Algeria reinforces the country’s growing role in the global auto supply chain. It reflects a well-structured move toward localized manufacturing, reduced import dependency, and technology transfer. For Fiat and Stellantis, it’s a strategic foothold. For Algeria, it’s a powerful signal of industrial advancement.

If Stellantis successfully meets local expectations around engine durability, options, and price point, the Grande Panda could become a new bestseller in the region—and cement Algeria’s role as a key manufacturing node in the Stellantis ecosystem.