Next Gen Fiat Panda, Born at the Giambattista Vico Plant

As the social tension grows from day to day in Italy, because of the projected layoffs Italian manufacturer Fiat is said to be preparing, the carmaker announced yesterday the place of production for the next generation Fiat Panda, scheduled to enter production sometime in 2011.

The new Panda will roll off the assembly lines of the Giambattista Vico plant in Pomigliano d'Arco, but not before some extensive "restructuring" is being done (bad choice of words, Fiat!).

The carmaker will spend 700 million euros to equip the facility. Additionally, the employees of the Fiat plant will be given a crash course into how the next Panda is to be built. Workers without whom, Fiat says, nothing is possible.

"These measures alone will not be sufficient to bring the plant into line with international best practice. The most advanced production lines, the best organisation and quality training alone do not guarantee that results will be achieved. To obtain the highest level of quality and productivity, the committed participation of workers, unions and government will be necessary," Fiat says in a release.

Now listen to this. For the new Panda and the investment to work, here's what Fiat need most.

"The basic conditions necessary to respond rapidly and effectively to fluctuations in commercial demand and avoid the loss of valuable opportunities are: maximum utilization of plant capacity, flexibility in shifts and work days, internal mobility and opposition to irregular forms of absenteeism."

Translation: Fiat needs its employees to do their jobs, when and where they are told, without endorsing and taking part in strikes.