NGV milestone: Fiat produces the 300,000th Panda Natural Power
Yet another record for two Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) stars: Panda – the ageless best seller of the Fiat brand, leader of the A class in Europe in 2016, with nearly 15% share, up 1.4% compared to 2015 – and the G. Vico di Pomigliano d’Arco plant, located near Naples, winner of several awards after its full renovation completed in 2011. The 300,000th Panda Natural Power has been celebrated by staff and is destined to be used in many events, beginning with the forthcoming International Motor Show in Geneva.
No other CNG-powered car in Europe has the Panda’s numbers. It was the first mass produced CNG car, and from 2007 to date, has been the best selling methane car in Europe. During the same time period, behind the Panda is another Fiat car: the Punto.
The record-breaking Panda is a white Lounge, which will be on show with a custom made livery. Equipped with a two-cylinder TwinAir Turbo Natural Power engine, with dual petrol – CNG fuel, it develops 80 HP (59 kW) and consumes 4.5 liters of petrol or 3.1 kilos of CNG (per one hundred kilometers of combined cycle), with minimal CO2 emissions: 106 g/km when using petrol and 85g/km when using methane. Compared to petrol, natural gas reduces CO2emissions by 23% and nitric oxide emissions by 52%.
FCA has been the leader in Europe for petrol-natural gas bi-fuel vehicles for twenty years, with over 700 thousand sold vehicles and a range of six Fiat brand models (Panda, Punto, Qubo, Doblò, 500L and 500L Living), one from Lancia (Ypsilon) and four from Fiat Professional: Fiorino, Doblò Cargo, Ducato and Ducato Panorama.
The Pomigliano d’Arco began production in 1972 with the Alfasud model. Over the years, its production lines churned out many models of Alfa Romeo (33 and 155, 145 and 146, 156 and 147, GT and 159) until November 2011, when Panda production began, reaching 830,000 cars since then. In 2012, the plant obtained a Silver award in the World Class Manufacturing certification program, as well as the Automotive Lean Production Award as Best in Europe. In 2013 – only a year later, and still within the WCM program – the plant was certified at Gold level. A new international accolade was obtained in 2014: the Lean and Green Management Award, a testament to the progress made in optimizing all “resources” needed to produce cars. The G. Vico plant continues its drive to reduce the environmental impact of production via continuous improvements, including responsible consumption of energy and water, and quality air and waste management.
https://www.ngvjournal.com/ngv-milestone-fiat-produces-the-300000th-panda-natural-power-in-italy/