As of Wednesday, Fiat’s new Kragujevac plant in Serbia has temporarily ceased production of its 500L small MPV, only a couple of months after the car went on sale in the United States this summer.
The reason? According to a Reuters report, the lack of parts as at least one of the plant’s suppliers was unable to complete deliveries of components, following an extended strike from displeased workers at a transport company who have blocked railways and roads in the region over unpaid wages.
A Fiat spokesperson confirmed the production halt, but did not say if it was due to the strike. “Production ceased on Wednesday and we still don’t know when it will resume,” said Fiat spokeswoman Aleksandra Rankovic.
The Kragujevac factory began production of the 500L family of small cars in July of 2012, churning out about 30,000 units until the end of the year, with Fiat expecting to manufacture up to 140,000 cars in 2013.
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