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Stellantis has officially started producing vehicles based on its Smart Car platform at the company’s Kénitra Assembly Plant in Morocco. The move gives the facility an important new assignment: building the upcoming Fiat Grizzly and Grizzly Fastback for markets across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and eventually other regions.
In this articleâ–ľ
Two New FIAT Models
Smart Car Production Begins
Morocco’s Growing Role
Sales Start Later This Year
The production launch was marked during an event at the factory on Wednesday attended by Moroccan Minister of Industry and Trade (MIT) Ryad Mezzour, government representatives, and Stellantis leadership. It represents the latest step in the automaker’s continued expansion of Kénitra as one of its key manufacturing hubs in the region.
2027 Fiat Grizzly and Grizzly Fastback. (FIAT).
Two New FIAT Models
The Grizzly and Grizzly Fastback are closely related vehicles designed to serve different types of buyers. Both ride on Stellantis’ cost-focused Smart Car platform, which was created to support high-volume vehicles with gasoline, hybrid, and fully electric powertrains.
FIAT describes the standard Grizzly as the more practical member of the pair. Its upright SUV shape is intended to maximize passenger room, headroom, and everyday usability. The Grizzly Fastback uses a sleeker roofline and a more expressive appearance for customers who want something sportier without giving up the space expected from a family crossover.
FIAT has not released complete powertrain specifications, trim details, or pricing, but the company says the lineup will offer several propulsion choices ranging from traditional gasoline engines to fully electric power. More details will come in October, when the pair are revealed officially at the 2026 Paris Motor Show.
Fiat Grizzly and Grizzly Fastback. (FIAT).
Smart Car Production Begins
The Smart Car platform is a major part of Stellantis’ plan to develop affordable vehicles that can be sold in many different markets. Instead of creating a completely separate foundation for every model or region, the company can use the same basic architecture, manufacturing processes, and components across several brands.
That approach should help control development and production costs while allowing each vehicle to receive its own styling, interior, equipment, and market positioning. Other products using the Smart Car architecture include the Fiat Grande Panda, Jeep® Avenger, Alfa Romeo Junior, and Citroën C3.
For Kénitra, adding the Grizzly family brings more conventional vehicle production to a site that already handles several different operations. The Moroccan complex combines vehicle assembly, engine manufacturing, and electric micromobility production. It has also built vehicles such as the Peugeot 208, Citroën Ami, Opel Rocks-e, and Fiat Topolino.
Fiat Grizzly and Grizzly Fastback. (FIAT).
Morocco’s Growing Role
Stellantis has spent several years expanding the Kénitra operation. In 2022, the automaker announced an investment of more than €300 million (or about $344 million USD) to increase capacity and prepare the facility for the Smart Car platform. A much larger expansion announced in 2025 further strengthened the site’s vehicle, engine, and micromobility operations.
The company also wants to increase the amount of parts and materials sourced from Morocco and nearby suppliers. Stellantis and the Moroccan government are targeting a local integration rate of up to 75% by 2030. Reaching that goal would require a larger supplier network, shorter shipping distances, and additional industrial partnerships throughout the automotive supply chain.
Fiat Grizzly and Grizzly Fastback. (FIAT).
Sales Start Later This Year
FIAT plans to begin the commercial rollout of the Grizzly and Grizzly Fastback during the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2026. Initial availability will focus on Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, with Latin American markets expected to follow later.
The Grizzly and Grizzly Fastback will spawn two Chrysler variants. The company has not confirmed if the Chrysler models will be produced at the Moroccan facility. Still, the two new crossovers are important to the global rebuilding effort and show how Stellantis intends to use Morocco as more than a low-cost assembly location. KĂ©nitra is becoming an increasingly important export, powertrain, and manufacturing center capable of supporting several types of vehicles.
For FIAT, the Grizzly twins provide two new family-focused entries using shared hardware but distinct personalities. For Stellantis, their arrival marks the beginning of a new production chapter at KĂ©nitra and another step toward a more regionalized manufacturing network.
Robert S. Miller