Stellantis

European and Chinese automakers faced off at the Paris Motor Show as they seek to make electric vehicles affordable for the broader public as the sector faces stalling sales in many countries.

The biennial show has long been a major industry showcase, tracing its history to 1898.

KRAGUJEVAC - At a ceremony that marked the start of trial production of Fiat's new electric car, the Grande Panda, at the Stellantis plant in Kragujevac, central Serbia, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Monday was a great day for Serbia as the modernised plant symbolised a joint success of Serbia and Stellantis and a fight for accelerated progress.

European carmaker Stellantis on Tuesday said it had formed a joint venture with the Chinese electric vehicle startup Leapmotor that will begin selling EVs in nine European countries, including Greece, later this year.

KRAGUJEVAC - The Fiat Chrysler plant in Kragujevac, central Serbia, has produced the initial test units of the first-ever electric car to be manufactured in Serbia, Tanjug learns.

They are undergoing crash tests and other testing inside the factory complex.

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with Italian PM Giorgia Meloni in Belgrade on Sunday afternoon.

At a joint press conference after the meeting, Vucic said they had discussed all important issues and agreed that Serbia and Italy, as exceptionally friendly countries, maintained good political and economic relations.

A wave of strikes that disrupted the three largest U.S. automakers for six weeks looked to have been finally resolved, as the auto workers union reached a tentative agreement with holdout General Motors.

The GM deal announced by the United Auto Workers (UAW) union comes after pacts with Stellantis and Ford, appearing to end the strike on the "Big Three" automakers.

Ford is halting work on a major battery plant in the northern U.S. state of Michigan, the automaker has said, just seven months after launching the project with a Chinese partner.

The stoppage, which a Ford a representative confirmed to AFP, comes as the company faces a major strike along with both of the other "Big Three" U.S. automakers, Stellantis and General Motors.

UAW, the union that once boasted a million and a half members at the height of its power and set standards for labor relations in the US through its collective agreements, now represents 400,000 people. Recently, it has made a series of previously unthinkable concessions to employers.

U.S.-European auto giant Stellantis, whose brands include Fiat, Jeep and Peugeot, reported yesterday a record net profit in the first six months of the year, boosted by higher prices for its vehicles.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak Thursday announced Japanese investment of more than $22 billion into the UK, but accepted carmakers' concern about Brexit trade rules as he confirmed talks with the European Union.