Dinkić: Fiat production to start in late 2009

This is good and bad news.

Good: the modernization of infrastructure. Also good: Serbia is part of duty-free zone with Kazakhstan, Belarus, Russia - so these cars can be sold there as well without extra duty.

Bad: the product. It will be an other car with poor crash test, not meeting the NHTSA standards, designed by notorious (in American market) company (Fiat), unfit for families.

Compare: a Honda Odyssey LX minivan can be bought in America for $22000 new. A KIA Sedona minivan can be bought for $18000 new. Than calculate and wonder, why bureaucrats in EU/Serbia/Russia/etc want us to have large families - but at the same time want us to fit these families in small cars, dangerous at any speed (or fork out $60000 for same product Americans pay $20000)

Blah, blah, blah.

All we hear is talk about the Fiat deal. Where's the money?

It would be great for Serbia if true, but so far all we have had is talk.

I have long been suspicious of this deal which has been used by to DS to convince Serbs that they have influence in the EU.

If Fiat ever build a factory in Serbia I promise I post again and publically eat my words.

If Fiat ever build a factory in Serbia I promise I post again and publically eat my words.
(Michael Thomas, 9 August 2008 15:59)

I hope, they won't. Instead, I hope, Honda, Toyota or even KIA will build a factory and we will see award-winning cars like:

Honda Odyssey ($22000 and up)
http://automobiles.honda.com/odyssey

Toyota Sienna
http://www.toyota.com/sienna

KIA Carens/Rondo or Sedona

http://www.kia.co.yu/carens
same as
http://www.kia.com/rondo

(five-star NHTSA crash test)

http://www.kia.co.yu/carnival
same as
http://www.kia.com/sedona/index.php

(five-star NHTSA crash test + consumer's best buy)

This is what the majority of families need. Each of these cars is a humble transportation, no luxury. The larger versions even appeal to K-Albanians with their large families.

Fiat may stick their clunkers where they came from and go home.

What is amazing - from the list, actually two cars, the Carens/Rondo and the Carnival/Sedona are available on the Serbian market. Just the brand name (KIA) is not flashy. But KIA (belongs to Hyundai) sounds million times better, than Fiat.

Blah, blah, blah.

All we hear is talk about the Fiat deal. Where's the money?

It would be great for Serbia if true, but so far all we have had is talk.

I have long been suspicious of this deal which has been used by to DS to convince Serbs that they have influence in the EU.

If Fiat ever build a factory in Serbia I promise I post again and publically eat my words.

This is good and bad news.

Good: the modernization of infrastructure. Also good: Serbia is part of duty-free zone with Kazakhstan, Belarus, Russia - so these cars can be sold there as well without extra duty.

Bad: the product. It will be an other car with poor crash test, not meeting the NHTSA standards, designed by notorious (in American market) company (Fiat), unfit for families.

Compare: a Honda Odyssey LX minivan can be bought in America for $22000 new. A KIA Sedona minivan can be bought for $18000 new. Than calculate and wonder, why bureaucrats in EU/Serbia/Russia/etc want us to have large families - but at the same time want us to fit these families in small cars, dangerous at any speed (or fork out $60000 for same product Americans pay $20000)

If Fiat ever build a factory in Serbia I promise I post again and publically eat my words.
(Michael Thomas, 9 August 2008 15:59)

I hope, they won't. Instead, I hope, Honda, Toyota or even KIA will build a factory and we will see award-winning cars like:

Honda Odyssey ($22000 and up)
http://automobiles.honda.com/odyssey

Toyota Sienna
http://www.toyota.com/sienna

KIA Carens/Rondo or Sedona

http://www.kia.co.yu/carens
same as
http://www.kia.com/rondo

(five-star NHTSA crash test)

http://www.kia.co.yu/carnival
same as
http://www.kia.com/sedona/index.php

(five-star NHTSA crash test + consumer's best buy)

This is what the majority of families need. Each of these cars is a humble transportation, no luxury. The larger versions even appeal to K-Albanians with their large families.

Fiat may stick their clunkers where they came from and go home.

What is amazing - from the list, actually two cars, the Carens/Rondo and the Carnival/Sedona are available on the Serbian market. Just the brand name (KIA) is not flashy. But KIA (belongs to Hyundai) sounds million times better, than Fiat.