Zastava 101 marks 55 years of production

The Zastava 101, popularly known as ‘Stojadin’, marks 55 years since its production began. The first series models rolled off the assembly lines in Kragujevac on October 15, 1971, and the vehicle remained in production until November 2008.

Based on the Italian Fiat 128, the Zastava 101 was distinguished by its practical five-door hatchback body. Over its nearly four-decade production run, the car survived economic sanctions, wars, and the bombing of the Kragujevac factory. While minor aesthetic changes occurred—such as the transition from round to square headlights and increased use of plastic—the fundamental 1970s-era construction remained largely unchanged. Notably, the car continued to use carburetor engines rather than EFI systems and lacked airbags even toward the end of its lifecycle.

More than one million units of the Zastava 101 were produced. The end of its production era followed an agreement between the Serbian government and Fiat, which took over the Kragujevac plant, leading to the discontinuation of other long-running models like the Yugo Coral and Florida.