A final assembly plant in the heart of northern France

Key data

- Created in 1992 on the former Chrysler plant site.
- Equally owned by Fiat and PSA Peugeot Citroën, with PSA Peugeot Citroën in charge of operational management.
- 161 hectares, including 34 hectares of green fields.
- Certified ISO 9001 and 14001 since 2000.
- Largest employer in the Valenciennes region with some 4,400 employees.
- Maximum capacity 190,000 vehicles a year (800 vehicles a day, including some 550 light commercial vehicles and combi-vans).
- Production of three vehicle ranges:
     - Executive MPVs for Peugeot, Citroën, Fiat and Lancia;
     - Compact light commercial vehicles for Peugeot, Citroën and Fiat;
     - Combi-vans for Peugeot, Citroën and Fiat.
- 1.6 million vehicles manufactured since 1992.
- Production record: 2003 with 169,161 vehicles.
- Flexible production facilities and logistics chain:
     - A single assembly line will handle 14 different body styles;
     - Just-in-sequence delivery of nearly 3,000 parts for assembly by operators.
- Total procurement of more than €400 million in the Northern region of the Pas-de-Calais.


Supporting PSA Peugeot Citroën and Fiat industrial cooperation

Created in 1992 on the former Chrysler plant site (1973-1987) outside the town of Hordain in Northern France, the Sevel Nord final assembly plant was set up to reinforce the production base for the cooperation between PSA Peugeot Citroën and Fiat, with each Group owning a 50% interest.
- The Sevel plant in Val di Sangro, Italy, specialises in manufacturing large light commercial vehicles.
- Sevel Nord is dedicated to the production of the two partners’ executive MPVs, as well as to light commercial vehicles under 3.5 tonnes.

Spanning 161 hectares, the site includes 34 hectares of green fields planted with 8,200 trees, which surround the 25 hectares housing three production units: body-in-white, painting and assembly.
In 2000, Sevel Nord earned ISO 14001 certification for its environmental management systems and ISO 9001 certification for the quality of its vehicle output.


Production capacity in line with market demand

The Sevel Nord plant ramped-up quickly after its inauguration in 1993 and today operates at nearly full capacity. Output has totalled more than 1.6 million units since the beginning, with a production record of 169,161 vehicles in 2003.
Maximum capacity is 190,000 vehicles a year or 800 units a day, including some 550 compact light commercial vehicles and combi-vans.
In 2005, Sevel Nord produced 151,100 vehicles for four different brands:
- 65,105 executive MPVs: Peugeot 807, Citroën C8, Fiat Ulysse and Lancia Phedra;
- 85,995 LCVs: Peugeot Expert, Citroën Dispatch and Fiat Scudo.

The plant is currently operating on three shifts, including a night shift, gearing up for the roll-out of the new family of compact light commercial vehicles and combi-vans while continuing to produce the previous generation of light commercial vehicles until they are phased out.


A single assembly line for a very diverse range of vehicles

What is unique about Sevel Nord is the plant’s ability to manage assembly of a wide range of body styles for the two automotive groups.
The site has proved extremely flexible in adjusting its production facilities and logistics chain to the ramp-up of the new model. Over a period of ten months, the same assembly line has accommodated 21 different body styles, from the executive MPVs and the long or short wheel base versions of the previous generation of light commercial vehicles to the new generations of light commercial vehicles and combi-vans, each with different bodies. Successfully managing such diversity is an unprecedented achievement in the production of passenger vehicles.
This extensive diversity requires diligent application of production systems to guarantee compliance with the different specifications and option packages. What’s more, an average of 3,000 parts must be delivered just-in-time to enable operators to assemble a complete vehicle.
This means that each operator’s expertise is critical to meeting both quality objectives and deadlines.


A major source of employment and business potential for the Valenciennes Region

The Sevel Nord plant employs around 4,400 people, making it the largest employer in the Valenciennes conurbation.
20% of the plant’s French-sourced procurement comes from the Northern Pas-de-Calais region, representing revenues of more than €400 million for the region. The introduction of the new vehicles and the creation of a nearby Supplier Park will significantly increase the percentage of regional purchasing.
The 46 hectares industrial park, created by the “Porte du Hainaut” municipal authorities, offers suppliers an opportunity to set up facilities near the production plant. By locating nearby, they will help to secure the plant’s supply chain, with most suppliers delivering on a just-in-time basis.


IMAGES Plants

IMAGES Scudo


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