Sevel Argentina
Sevel Argentina was an automobile company that produced and marketed Fiat, Peugeot, Alfa Romeo, Chevrolet, and Citroën automobiles for the Argentine market until it was dissolved in 1999. The company was created by merging Fiat's and Peugeot's Argentine operations (SAFRAR and Fiat Concord). History. In Europe, Fiat and PSA began a 50/50 joint venture 1978 under the name of Sevel (from" Société Européenne de Véhicules Légers" or" Società Europea Veicoli Leggeri"). Two factories, Sevel Sud in Italy and Sevel Nord in France, still produce commercials and MPVs. The Argentine manufacturers of Peugeots ("SAFRAR", "Sociedad Anónima Franco  Argentina de Automotores CIF") and Fiats (FIAT Concord S.A.) then merged in December 1980. The merger was in response to law No Nº 21.932 of 1979, ordering the restructuring of the Argentine automotive industry. The new company formed was also called Sevel, but here the versatile acronym stood for" Sociedad Europea de Vehículos para Latinoamérica" (European Company for making Vehicles for Latin America). As part of the rationalization effort, production of passenger vehicles was to take place in Fiat's large El Palomar plant, while commercials, tractors, vans, and heavy vehicles were to be built in Fiat's factory in  Ferreyra, Córdoba province. Peugeot's Berazategui (in Buenos Aires) factory was decommissioned and production transferred to El Palomar, but increasing market demand in 1993 meant this plant was reopened. In September 1981, Peugeot withdrew and the Fiat Group assumed control. Fiat and Peugeot of Argentina separated in 1995, but Sevel kept building the existing products. Fiat, in anticipation of the 1997 end of Sevel's license, built a brand new plant for production of the new Siena. As Fiat's Argentine operations gradually became autonomous, Sevel moved their entire production to their El Palomar plant. In 1999, PSA took over  Peugeot/Citroën production under the name of Peugeot-Citroën de Argentina. Sevel Uruguay. Sevel Uruguay, located in its capital city Montevideo, is an assembler of Fiat, Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge and RAM branded automobiles. The company was founded in 1984 and since 1992 it has assembled vehicles as CKD-related kits. The vehicle identification number, however, uses the plant's own brand code 9U1. In Uruguay these have been assembled: Fiat Uno, Fiat Uno Way, Fiat Fiorino, Fiat Punto, Fiat Palio, Fiat Palio Weekend, Fiat Siena, Fiat Strada Trekking, Fiat Stilo, Fiat Idea, Fiat Idea Adventure, Fiat Linea, Fiat Ducato and  Iveco Daily. Some of the vehicles assembled in Uruguay are also marketed in Central America. Production. In 1980, production of the existing lineups (Fiat 600, 133, 128, 125, Peugeot 404, and 504) continued, but newer models were announced along with the merger. Subsequently, the Fiat 147 (called Spazio) and Peugeot 505 were added, while other old models were either updated or discontinued. SEVEL-built cars received "8A4" as the manufacturer code in the vehicle identification number.