Courtesy of FIAT

Production of the Panda, one of Fiat's best-selling models, could be transferred from Poland's Tychy plant to Italy, according to an article published in Italian daily La Repubblica on Saturday.

Trade unions at Fiat Auto Poland (FAP) do not believe that the Tychy Fiat factory will lose the contract to produce the Panda,  while senior executives at Tychy refused to comment on the information.

"We know nothing of such plans," said company spokesperson Bogusław Cieślar. The news is equally surprising for the staff of the Tychy plant.

"This would be absurd. We manufacture as many cars in one factory as the Italians do in four plants," said Stanisław Młynarczyk, chairman of FAP trade unions.

The Italians would like to take over Panda production, as the balance of efficiency is disastrous for them – Italian factories employ 22,000 persons and manufacture 645,000 cars annually, while in Poland the figures are 5,000 and 600,000 respectively.

Source: Rzeczpospolita