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Founded in 1952 by decree of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. On 30 October 1953, the first trucks were produced based on licence from Saurer.[3] Models were 4G and 6G (4 and 6 tonnes). In 1959 factory was extended and capacity growth on 3600 vehicles per year. In 1961 vehicles and engines manufacturers cluster "ITV" was formed with FAP as member. The first domestically designed FAP vehicles where FAP 10B and FAP 15B introduced in serial production by 1965.[3] The FAP 18B was made with a Leyland engine licence built by FAMOS. In 1970 a production, technical and financial cooperation contract was signed with Daimler-Benz.[3] The first product from FAP based on contract with Daimler-Benz was LP1113, and it was followed by MB 1213 and O 302. By 1975 new manufacturing plant with 50.000 square meters was built and 150 new machines installed. New projected capacity was 10.000 vehicles/year. Licence contract with Mercedes-Benz was extended in 1976.[3] for production of vehicle from 12 to 26 tonnes weight; many new vehicles are produced like FAP 1616, 1620, 1626, 1921, 1926, 2226 and 2626. With collaboration of FAP with Military Technical Institute Belgrade in 1978 it is developed special military vehicles FAP 2026/6×6 and it is produced in following years in different variants to satisfy various roles in military. FAP was producing many different chassis that were used in factories in Zagreb, Skopje, Belgrade as bases for producing buses and other vehicles. In 1986 licence with Mercedes-Benz was extended for producing 12-26 tonnes gross vehicle weight.[3] In 1984 FAP was again extending factory in newly built industrial zone "Manovica". By their own design center, trailers where developed from 20 to 70 tonnes gross weight. Until 1991 FAP had 16,468 square meters of factory space. Trucks and other FAP products were exported worldwide.[4][5][6]
1970s–1990s: Export success and international expedition
Endurance of the FAP trucks was tested in the Gobi Desert during 1995–96 expedition "Putevi sveta (On Pathways of the World")". It is FAP 2026 GC/B 6X6 which was produced in cooperation with Ikarbus. Aim of this expedition was to cross road Priboj-Belgrade-Moscow-Ulan Bator-Beijing-Dalyan-Belgrade-Priboj. This aim was accomplished for only 139 days in the winter season.[7]
Among all FAP trucks, great success in sport activities had FAP 1626,[8] with V8 Mercedes engine. During the 80s some local enterprises PIK "Belje" (Subsidiary "Beljetrans") advantage great success on FIA European Truck Racing Championship in Hungary and Spain with 22 people crew and Vlado Čugalj at the wheel. Championship in Germany was delayed due to financial problems of the PIK "Belje". FAP 1626 probably was the only truck which returned his original purpose-transportation of the load.
During severe economic problems in Serbia in the 1990s,[9] FAP lost many markets and significantly deteriorated in terms of research and production. During the 2000s, it offered many variants of vehicles based on old Mercedes tooling, with different engines manufactured by Mercedes-Benz, Cummins, MAN and Famos,[10] FAP was producing vehicles for domestic use and export. Exported vehicles could be found in many countries worldwide like Egypt, Nigeria, Libya, Sudan, Syria, etc.[11]
Production lines consisted of military and civilian vehicles. FAP also built chassis, trailers aggregates (axles, transmissions, spare parts, cabins, shipbuilding parts etc.). All produced vehicles had EURO 3, EURO 4 or EURO 5 engines type.[12]
2014–present: Military-oriented production
In 2014, Finnish truck maker Sisu Auto has placed offer to buy FAP, in cooperation with the Government of Serbia.[13] However, the negotiations were shut down due to disagreements in strategy between the parties. Over the years, the Government of Serbia has worked to place the company on healthy grounds; in the process more than 1,000 employees have left the company with severance payments.[14]
As of 2017, FAP is operating as manufacturer and overhaul provider for the Serbian Army.[14] In 2017, FAP delivered ten new trucks to the Serbian Army, as part of 2.53 million euros deal with the Serbian Ministry of Defence.[15] In December 2022, FAP signed a new contract with the Ministry of Defence, worth 3.15 million euros.[16]
In November 2023, on its 70th anniversary, FAP presented a prototype for a facelifted civilian truck, called the FAP 2240. It features a new grille, front bumper and headlights, as well as a completely overhauled interior taken from the Chinese BeiBen NG80. The truck is equipped with a 6 cylinder Mercedes-Benz OM457 engine, making 400 HP, and a 16-speed ZF Ecosplit manual transmission. The fuel tank holds up to 400 litres and the top speed of the truck is said to be 95 km/h. The FAP 2240 has yet to reach series production.[17]
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