Fiat-Chrysler has released the names of 11 companies that will be integrated into a new supplier park to support its new plant in Recife (Brazil), according to a report by AutomotiveBusiness.com.br. The supplier park reportedly to occupies 12 buildings across 270,000 square metres. Seventeen lines of strategic components are planned, with the facility expected to deliver 40% of the required parts for Recife production. The supplier park is due to be completed in the second half of 2014, with initial production due to start in August and testing to run through until January 2015. The suppliers include Magneti Marelli, a Magneti Marelli/Faurecia joint venture, Lear, Adler, Pirelli (mounting of tire/wheel assembly), Saint-Gobain Sekurit, Powercoat, Denso, PMC, Tiberina, and Brose. Investment is said to total BRL2bn (USD850.85m).
Significance: This will be Fiat's third plant in the region, with a USD1.8bn investment. Initially, it was expected that the plant would build the Dodge Dart sedan and hatchback, a new medium pick-up, and an SUV derivative; the pick-up and SUV are expected to be exported to Mexico as well. However, the plant may end up building a B-SUV instead of the Dart. By 2016, IHS Automotive forecasts the plant's production will have reached approximately 130,000 units, though planned capacity is 200,000 units; this will be about 15% of the company's production of 841,000 units in Brazil. Fiat's largest facility will remain the Betim complex.
