View source for Company:Sevel Argentina

{{Short description|Company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Sevel Argentina S.A.
| former_names = 
| logo = Sevel Logo.png
| logo_size = 
| image =
| image_caption = 
| type = [[Social:Subsidiary|Subsidiary]]
| fate = 
| industry = {{wipe|Automotive industry}}
| predecessor = Fiat Concord<br>SAFRAR Peugeot
| foundation = 1981 <ref name=stellarg>[https://www.media.stellantis.com/ar-es/peugeot/press/planta-palomar-su-historia Planta Palomar, su historia] at Stellantis Argentina</ref>
| founder = Jean Paul Parayre &<br> Umberto Agnelli
| defunct = {{end date and age|1999}} <ref name=stellarg/>
| successor = Fiat Auto Argentina <br> Peugeot-Citroën Argentina
| key_people = Franco Macri<br>Mauricio Macri<br> (President, 1994–95)
| location = El Palomar, Buenos Aires, {{wipe|Argentina}}
| area_served = 
| products = [[Engineering:Car|Automobiles]], [[Engineering:Pickup truck|pickups]]
| owner =
| parent = Sevel
| subsid  = 
| brands = {{plainlist|
* Fiat
* [[Company:Peugeot|Peugeot]]
* Chevrolet (1985–91)
{{collapsible list|
'''(Imported)'''
* [[Company:Alfa Romeo|Alfa Romeo]]
* [[Company:Citroën|Citroën]]
}}
}}
| footnotes = 
}}
'''Sevel Argentina S.A.''' was an {{wipe|Argentina}} automobile company established in 1981 that produced and marketed Fiat, [[Company:Peugeot|Peugeot]], [[Company:Alfa Romeo|Alfa Romeo]], Chevrolet, and [[Company:Citroën|Citroën]] vehicles for the local market until it was dissolved in 1999. The company was created by merging Fiat's and Peugeot's Argentine operations (Fiat Concord and SAFRAR).<ref name=WorldCars1984>{{cite book | title = World Cars 1984 | publisher = L'Editrice dell'Automobile LEA/Herald Books | location = Pelham, NY | pages = 408 | year = 1984 | isbn = 0-910714-16-9 }}</ref><ref name=autoweb>[https://www.autoweb.com.ar/2020/12/03/hace-40-anos-nacia-sevel-argentina/ Hace 40 años nacía Sevel Argentina] on Autoweb, 3 Dec 2020</ref>

Entrepreneur Franco Macri had a controlling stake in Sevel, which would become as the largest automaker in Argentina.<ref name=ale/> Franco's son and former president of Argentina, Mauricio Macri, was in charge of Sevel (first as vice-president and then as president of the company) in early 1990s.<ref name=izq1>{{cite news | url = https://www.laizquierdadiario.com/El-caso-Sevel-la-historia-de-Macri-como-empresario-automotriz | title = El caso Sevel: la historia de Macri como empresario automotriz | first1 = Rubén | last1 = Matu | first2 = Laura | last2 = Suárez | newspaper = La Izquierda Diario | date = 2015-12-15 | language = es }}</ref><ref name=motor1>{{cite web | url = https://ar.motor1.com/news/473466/mauricio-macri-de-sevel-y-chery-a-la-casa-rosada/ | title = Mauricio Macri: de Sevel y Chery, a la Casa Rosada | website = Motor1 Argentina | language = es | date = 2015-11-23 | first = Carlos | last = Cristófalo }}</ref>

== History ==
In Europe, [[Company:Fiat S.p.A.|Fiat S.p.A.]] and [[Company:PSA Group|PSA Peugeot Citroën]] began a 50/50 [[Finance:Joint venture|joint venture]] in 1978 under the name of "Sevel" (an acronym of "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.<ref>[https://www.motorwebargentina.com/2019/12/sevel-union-historia-fiat-peugeot/ SEVEL: la unión entre Fiat y Peugeot que nunca desapareció] on Motorweb, 20 Dec 2019</ref><ref>L'Editrice dell'Automobile LEA/Herald Books, ed. (1984). World Cars 1984 – Pelham, Nueva York. p. 408. {{ISBN|0-910714-16-9}}</ref>

[[File:Mauricio macri globos 1993.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Mauricio Macri was in charge of SEVEL before being president of Boca Juniors]]
The Argentine manufacturers of Peugeots (''SAFRAR'', ''Sociedad Anónima Franco Argentina de Automotores CIF'') and Fiats (Fiat Concord S.A.) then merged in 1981.<ref name=stellarg/><ref name=WorldCars1984/> The merger was in response to law No Nº 21.932 of 1979, ordering the restructuring of the Argentine automotive industry.<ref>{{Citation | date = 1979-02-01 | title = LEY 21932/79 | type = Legal Decree | place = Buenos Aires, Argentina | language = Spanish | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110810161416/http://200.69.252.41/hypersoft/Normativa/NormaServlet?id=1530 | url = http://200.69.252.41/hypersoft/Normativa/NormaServlet?id=1530 | archivedate  = 2011-08-10 }}</ref> 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''). At first, Sevel resumed production of models previously made by Fiat Concord ([[Engineering:Fiat 125|125]], [[Engineering:Fiat 128|128]]) and SAFRAR ([[Engineering:Peugeot 404|404]], [[Engineering:Peugeot 504|504]]) but the company soon added new models such as [[Engineering:Peugeot 505|Peugeot 505]] (1981), and [[Engineering:Fiat 147|Fiat 147]] (1982).<ref name=autoweb/>

Italian immigrant to Argentina and entrepreneur Franco Macri, who had been associated with Fiat in construction business, took over Sevel operations in 1982 through its Grupo SOCMA,<ref name=autoweb/> after acquiring the 85% share.<ref name=infob1>[https://www.infobae.com/autos/2019/11/01/fiat-y-peugeot-una-alianza-que-nacio-hace-cuatro-decadas-y-tuvo-una-base-en-la-argentina/ Fiat y Peugeot: una alianza que nació hace cuatro décadas y tuvo una base en la Argentina] on Infobae, 1 Nov 2019</ref> The company proposed to reduce production of automobiles to 30,000 per year, which caused the closure of two out of five assembly plants in Argentina, and the suspension of 15,000 employees.<ref name=izq1/> In the second half of the 1980s, Fiats [[Engineering:Fiat Regata|Regata]], [[Engineering:Fiat Uno|Uno]], [[Engineering:Fiat Duna|Duna]] were added, as well as the Chevrolet C-10 pickup produced under license from [[Company:General Motors|General Motors]].<ref name=silver/><ref name=autoweb/>

As part of the rationalization effort, production of passenger vehicles was to take place in Fiat's large El Palomar plant, while commercials, tractors,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pesadosargentinos.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/fiat-someca-concord-agritecnica.html|title = Pesados Argentinos: Agritec|date = 13 February 2014}}</ref> vans, and heavy vehicles were to be built in Fiat's factory in Ferreyra, Córdoba province. Peugeot's Berazategui (in Greater Buenos Aires) factory was decommissioned and production transferred to El Palomar, but increasing market demand in 1993 meant this plant was reopened.<ref name=autoweb/>

The opening of imports in 1991 allowed Sevel to market in Argentina [[Company:Alfa Romeo|Alfa Romeo]] and [[Company:Citroën|Citroën]] vehicles.<ref name=autoweb/> In 1992, Mauricio Macri was appointed as vice-president of the company, then being president from 1994 to 1995 before becoming a football executive as president of Boca Juniors in 1996.<ref name=motor1/>

[[File:Sevel publicidad todos modelos.jpg|thumb|300px|Sevel's complete line of vehicles in a 1985 ad]]
Sevel, the Socma Group's centerpiece at the time, initially benefitted from the boom touched off by Economy Minister Domingo Cavallo's Convertibility Plan in 1991, seeing its auto sales grow from 30,000 in 1990 to 200,000 in 1994.<ref name=sevel>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bradynet.com/docs/sevel.doc |title=Sevel Argentina S.A. |access-date=2012-10-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060627065353/http://www.bradynet.com/docs/sevel.doc |archive-date=2006-06-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The local auto industry was hit hard, however, by the [[Finance:Mexican peso crisis|Mexican peso crisis]]. A fall in sales to 130,000 led the company to divest itself of the Fiat licence in 1996, and Sevel revenues fell by nearly half, to US$1.1 billion.<ref name=sevel/>

The Argentine economic crisis that began in 1994 affected the automotive production among other sectors. In 1996 Sevel Argentina separated from [[Company:Fiat S.p.A.|Fiat S.p.A.]]<ref name=infob1/> As Fiat's Argentine operations gradually became autonomous, Sevel moved their entire production to their El Palomar plant.<ref>{{cite book | title = Bil Katalogen 1998 | publisher = Motor Presse International | location = Stuttgart | pages = 53, 123 | year = 1997 | id = 0894-01 }}</ref> In 1998, Grupo SOCMA sold its block of shares to [[Company:PSA Group|PSA Group]] which took over production of Peugeot and Citroën vehicles under the name of "Peugeot-Citroën de Argentina".<ref name=motor1/><ref name=infob1/>

Sevel was eventually liquidated, rescinding its Peugeot licence in March 2000, well into the Argentine economic crisis, and the Socma Group's global revenues fell from US$4.5 billion in 1994 to US$2 billion in 2001.<ref name=ale>Ale, Ana. ''La Dinastía''. Editorial Planeta, 2001.<!-- ISSN/ISBN needed --></ref> Following Sevel's liquidation, Macri was convicted of customs duty evasion relating to an auto export-import scheme via neighboring Uruguay.<ref>[http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=38149 ''La Nación'' (24 October 2000) {{in lang|es}}]</ref>

== Sevel Uruguay ==
"Sevel Uruguay", located in its capital city [[Place:Montevideo|Montevideo]], is an assembler of Fiat, [[Company:Jeep|Jeep]], [[Company:Chrysler|Chrysler]], Dodge, and [[Company:Ram Trucks|Ram]] branded vehicles. 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.

Fiat models that have been assembled in Uruguay are [[Engineering:Fiat Uno|Uno]], [[Engineering:Fiat Fiorino|Fiorino]], [[Engineering:Fiat Punto|Punto]], [[Engineering:Fiat Palio|Palio]] (sedan and station wagon), [[Engineering:Fiat Siena|Siena]], [[Engineering:Fiat Strada|Strada]], [[Engineering:Fiat Stilo|Stilo]], [[Engineering:Fiat Idea|Idea]], [[Engineering:Fiat Linea|Linea]], [[Engineering:Fiat Ducato|Ducato]], and [[Engineering:Iveco Daily|Iveco Daily]]. Some of the vehicles assembled in Uruguay are also marketed in Central America.

== Vehicles ==
In 1981, production of the existing lineups ([[Engineering:Fiat 600|Fiat 600]], 133, [[Engineering:Fiat 128|128]], [[Engineering:Fiat 125|125]], [[Engineering:Peugeot 404|Peugeot 404]], and [[Engineering:Peugeot 504|504]]) continued, but newer models were announced along with the merger. Subsequently, the [[Engineering:Fiat 147|Fiat 147]] (called Spazio) and [[Engineering:Peugeot 505|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|vehicle identification number]].

=== Produced ===
List of vehicles (automobiles and trucks) produced by Sevel Argentina, 1981–1999:
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{|class= "wikitable"
|- 
| colspan="5" style= "background:#ccccff; color:" | {{center|'''Fiat'''}}
|-
! width= px| Name
! width= px| {{abbr|Type|Vehicle body style}}
! width= px| {{abbr|Orig.|Country where this vehicle was originally designed}}
! width=100px| {{abbr|Produced|Period this model was produced in Argentina}}
! Image
|-
| [[Engineering:Fiat 600|600]] || [[Engineering:A-segment|A-segment]] || {{flag|ITA}} || 1981–82 {{refn|Resumed production previously iniciated by Fiat Concord.|group=n|name=conc}} || [[File:Fiat 600 1979 (16582057298).jpg|100px]]
|-
| [[Engineering:Fiat 125|125]] || [[Engineering:Sedan (automobile)|Sedan]] / <br>[[Engineering:Station wagon|Station wagon]] / <br>[[Engineering:Pickup truck|Pickup]] || {{flag|ITA}} || 1981–82 {{refn|group=n|name=conc}} || [[File:Fiat_125_Special_1971_(18869446682).jpg|100px]]
|-
| [[Engineering:Fiat 128|128]] || [[Engineering:Sedan (automobile)|Sedan]] / <br>[[Engineering:Station wagon|Station wagon]] ||{{flag|ITA}} || 1981–82 {{refn|group=n|name=conc}}|| [[File:Fiat 128 Argentina.JPG|100px]]
|-
| [[Engineering:SEAT 133|133]] || [[Engineering:B-segment|B-segment]] || {{flag|SPA}} ||1981–82 {{refn|group=n|name=conc}} || [[File:Fiat_133_a6.JPG|100px]]
|-
| [[Company:Fiat 619|619]] || [[Engineering:Truck|Truck]] || {{flag|ITA}} || 1981–95 {{refn|group=n|name=conc}}|| [[File:Camion fiat 619 argentina.jpg|100px]]
|-
| [[Engineering:Fiat 147|147]] || [[Engineering:Hatchback|hatchback]] [[Engineering:Compact car|compact]] || {{flag|BRA}} || 1982–96 || [[File:Fiat_147_late.jpg|100px]]
|-
| [[Engineering:Fiat Regata|Regata]] || [[Engineering:Sedan (automobile)|Sedan]] / <br>[[Engineering:Station wagon|Station wagon]] {{refn|group=n|name=week}}  || {{flag|ITA}} ||1985–95 || [[File:Fiat_Regata_berlina.JPG|100px]]
|-
| [[Engineering:Fiat Duna|Duna]] || [[Engineering:Sedan (automobile)|Sedan]] / <br>[[Engineering:Station wagon|Station wagon]] {{refn|Named "Weekend".|group=n|name=week}} || {{flag|ITA}} || 1987–95 || [[File:Fiat_Duna601.png|100px]]
|-
| [[Engineering:Fiat Uno|Uno]] || [[Engineering:B-segment|B-segment]] || {{flag|ITA}} || 1989–95 || [[File:Innocenti_Mille_5-door_front.JPG|100px]]
|-
| [[Engineering:Fiat Fiorino|Fiorino]] || Light commercial || {{flag|ITA}} || 1990–95 || [[File:Fiat_Fiorino_front_20080111.jpg|100px]]
|}
{{col-2}}
{|class= "wikitable"
|- 
| colspan="5" style= "background:#ccccff; color:" | {{center|'''Peugeot'''}}
|-
! width= px| Name
! width= px| {{abbr|Type|Vehicle body style}}
! width= px| {{abbr|Orig.|Country where this vehicle was originally designed}}
! width=100px| {{abbr|Produced|Period this model was produced in Argentina}}
! Image
|-
| [[Engineering:Peugeot 404|404]] || [[Engineering:Sedan (automobile)|Sedan]] || {{flag|FRA}} || 1981–81 || [[File:Peugeot 404 Apeldoorn(NL).jpg|100px]]
|-
| [[Engineering:Peugeot 504|504]] || [[Engineering:Sedan (automobile)|Sedan]] || {{flag|FRA}} || 1981–99 || [[File:1978_Peugeot_504_Ti_Automatic_2.0_Front.jpg|100px]]
|-
| [[Engineering:Peugeot 504|504]] || [[Engineering:Sedan (automobile)|Sedan]] /<br>[[Engineering:Pickup truck|Pickup]] {{refn|Produced 1990–95.|group=n|name=504pick}} || {{flag|FRA}} || 1981–99 || [[File:1978_Peugeot_504_Ti_Automatic_2.0_Front.jpg|100px]]
|-
| [[Engineering:Peugeot 505|505]] || [[Engineering:D-segment|D-segment]] /<br>[[Engineering:Station wagon|Station wagon]] {{refn|Named "Break".|group=n|name=break}}|| {{flag|FRA}} || 1981–95 || [[File:1985_Peugeot_505_GTI_Executive_sedan_(2015-11-11)_01_rotated.jpg|100px]]
|-
| Chevrolet C-10 {{refn|Under license of [[Company:General Motors|General Motors]].<ref name=silver>[https://parabrisas.perfil.com/noticias/clasicos/asi-probabamos-a-la-chevrolet-c-10-silverado-argentina-sevel-lanzamiento-presentacion-test-prueba-de-manejo-parabrisas-retro.phtml Así probábamos a la Chevrolet C10 Silverado] on Parabrisas, 12 Jan 2020</ref>|group=n|name=gmlicense}} || [[Engineering:Pickup truck|Pickup]]||{{flag|USA}} || 1985–91 || [[File:Chevrolet c10 argentina.jpg|100px]]
|-
| [[Engineering:Peugeot 405|405]] || [[Engineering:D-segment|D-segment]] || {{flag|FRA}} || 1992–99 || [[File:405_us_av.jpg|100px]]
|-
| [[Engineering:Peugeot 306|306]] || [[Engineering:C-segment|C-segment]] || {{flag|FRA}} || 1995–99 || [[File:Peugeot_306_front_20080822.jpg|100px]]
|-
| [[Engineering:Peugeot 206|206]] || [[Engineering:B-segment|B-segment]] || {{flag|FRA}} || 1999 || [[File:2008_Peugeot_206_5-door_in_Cyberjaya,_Malaysia_(01).jpg|100px]]
|-
| [[Engineering:Citroën Berlingo|Partner]] {{refn|Sold under both [[Company:PSA Group|PSA Group]] brands, Peugeot ("Partner") and [[Company:Citroën|Citroën]] ("Berlingo").|group=n|name=rebadged}} || [[Engineering:Panel van|Panel van]] || {{flag|FRA}}|| 1999 || [[File:2000_Citroen_Berlingo_1.9_Front.jpg|100px]]

|}
{{col-end}}
;Notes
{{reflist|group=n}}

=== Imported ===
* [[Engineering:Fiat Tempra|Fiat Tempra]] (1993–?) <ref>[https://parabrisas.perfil.com/noticias/clasicos/asi-probabamos-renault-19-vs-fiat-tempra-argentina-test-retro-prueba-nuevo-lanzamiento.phtml Así probábamos al Renault 19 vs Fiat Tempra], Parabrisas, May 1993</ref>

==See also==
* [[Company:AutoLatina|AutoLatina]], similar joint venture in Argentina

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Fiat}}

[[Category:Joint ventures]]

{{Sourceattribution|Sevel Argentina|1}}