Company overview
Zastava Automobiles, originally a Serbian and Yugoslav manufacturer, began as a cannon-casting plant in 1853. It transitioned to automobile production in 1939, initially assembling Chevrolet trucks and later building Fiat models under the Zastava brand. From 1980, Zastava became known for its Yugo cars, based on the Fiat 127 and 101, which were exported to numerous countries. Production peaked in 1989 at 180,950 units. The company faced significant challenges in the post-Yugoslav era due to economic sanctions and mismanagement, leading to a dramatic reduction in production. In 1999, NATO bombing damaged the Kragujevac factory. Following privatization attempts in 2007, FIAT Automobiles Serbia took over Zastava’s facilities in 2008. The company produced the Fiat Punto under the Zastava 10 name from 2005 to 2008. Production ceased in 1993, with a brief revival in Hungary under Iveco licensing.
