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There are a number of horrible automobiles from years long past by way of – too many to call, if truth be told.
But few garnered a name moderately as dangerous as one specifically notorious 1980s motor produced in former Yugoslavia that was Britain’s least expensive automobile of the last decade.
While hundreds have been offered in the United Kingdom, it has long past down in folklore because the ‘worst automobile in historical past’. In reality, there is a ebook devoted to its incorrect previous.
Though now not everybody consents. Certainly now not Dr Aleksandar Bjelić, the person who plans to restore the title for the 21st century.
Bjelić, a professor with a 20-years background within the car sector, is guidance – and investment – the relaunch of the Yugo.
In an unique interview with This is Money, he explains what the longer term looks as if for the reborn logo, how he intends to convey six automobiles to marketplace – together with a roadster and SUV – and why the unique 1980s Yugo wasn’t as dangerous as many attempt to make out…
Dr Aleksandar Bjelić is the person who plans to restore the Yugo title for the 21st century. We solely spoke to him about his ambitions
The Yugo 45 in the beginning entered the United Kingdom marketplace in 1981 as a rebodied Fiat 127 with a easy field form penned by way of famed styling space ItalDesign and a shockingly crude cabin in need of luxuries.
Under the bonnet was once a selection of 3 Fiat petrol engines, all modest capacities from 903cc to 1,301cc. It even offered a ‘convertible’ variant with an influence roof.
And it was once severely affordable.
By the time UK imports ceased in 1991 because of the outbreak of the Yugoslav civil conflict, the Eastern Bloc automobile was once being offered new for simply £2,795 – that is the identical of simply £8,600 in 2025 respective of inflation.
At the peak of its reputation, round 3,000 Yugos have been offered in the United Kingdom in keeping with yr. But few live to tell the tale as of late because of catastrophic rust.
In reality, by way of 2018, legitimate registrations knowledge recommended that the hundreds as soon as owned had plummeted to an insignificant 19 at the street.
Half a decade later, UK numbers dwindled to simply 9.
And as of late, we have now it on just right authority that best two Yugo 45s have continued.
The Yugoslavian Yugo 45 debuted on the United Kingdom marketplace in 1981 as a rebodied Fiat 127 with a easy field form penned by way of famed styling space ItalDesign
The Yugo was once to be had with a selection of 3 petrol choices of various capability from 903cc to 1,301cc. It even offered as a ‘convertible’ variant (pictured) with an influence roof
A complete of 794,428 Yugos have been produced for the worldwide marketplace. However, just a fraction of those have been offered in Britain
The Yugo additionally made it around the Atlantic to the United States, the place 142,000 have been bought between 1985 and 1992.
Costing simply $4,000, it was once straight away famend for being poorly engineered, unsightly, and rudimentary.
Long prior to Yugos stopped being imported into America, it had grow to be the butt of each car shaggy dog story, like: ‘Why do Yugo’s have a heater for the again window? To stay your palms heat when pushing it.’
Jason Vuic’s 2010 ebook ‘The Yugo: The Rise and Fall of the Worst Car in History’, explains: ‘Six months after its American advent in 1985, the Yugo had grow to be a punch line; inside a yr, it was once a staple of late-night comedy.’
The Eastern Bloc product price as low as £2,795 by the point imports ceased in 1991 when the Yugoslav civil conflict broke out, making it by way of a long way the least dear new automobile offered in Britain on the time
We have it on just right authority that best two Yugo 45s stay in Britain as of late, which is most commonly all the way down to the unique automobiles struggling catastrophic rust
The Zastava automobile manufacturing unit within the central Serbian the town of Kragujevac, some 75 miles from the capital Belgrade, was once closely broken all the way through NATO air moves in 1999
In 1999, all the way through NATO’s bombing of Yugoslavia, the Zastava automobile manufacturing unit in Kragujevac, the place Yugo automobiles have been produced, was once centered and broken, although now not totally destroyed.
Incredibly, Yugo endured to be produced for the home marketplace in Serbia below the title Zastava Koral some 17 years after it was once pulled from the United Kingdom. The ultimate type rolled off the Serbian meeting line on 21 November 2008.
A decade later, Group Zastava Vehicles and its subsidiaries entered a chapter process.
But Yugo is about to embark on a dramatic go back as an inexpensive three-door type below the reborn title Yugo Automobile, which is spearheaded by way of Dr. Aleksandar Bjelić, a German professor of Serbian descent.
His thought Yugo Siaj led to a world stir when it debuted as a 1:5 scale type previous this month on the Car Design Event in Munich – which you’ll learn extra about right here.
This is Money spoke solely to Dr Aleksandar Bjelić following the disclosing to speak about his interest for Yugo, his plans to restore it, and why he believes the unique automobile wasn’t as dangerous as many assume…
Yugo is about to go back below the stewardship of Dr Aleksandar Bjelić, a German college professor of Serbian descent who’s taking it upon himself to restore the title
Q&A with Dr. Aleksandar Bjelić, CEO Yugo Automobile
Tell us extra about your self?
I’m 50 years outdated, born in Germany the place I additionally reside, however during my skilled profession I’ve had the risk to reside in the United States and Switzerland. I’m married and feature two daughters.
I studied global technical gross sales and feature a PhD in Risk Management in Contemporary Organisations.
I’ve lectured on the University of Aalen in Germany and Belgrade, Serbia, and concentrate on gross sales, advertising and marketing, enterprise construction, international (trade-) markets, global companies, and entrepreneurship.
What background do you could have within the car sector?
Globo GmbH, the oldest automobile care logo international, is among the corporations inside my maintaining.
My car background comes from greater than 20 lively years in different nationwide and global control stations within the car sector, at ZF, Bosch, Behr and others.
I’ve advanced a powerful community inside OEMs and Tiers 1s. These supply quite a lot of precious enter and recommendation for my Yugo challenge.
Beside the business-related problems, I’m a automobile collector, vintage and sportscar driving force and racer, lively member in different car golf equipment and consultant of FIVA, the worldwide vintage automobile federation.
Bjelić debuted a 1:5-scale imaginative and prescient of the reborn Yugo on the Car Design Event 2025 in Munich, hosted between 6-8 May
Alongside Serbian dressmaker Darko Marčeta, the pair showcased how the eighties-inspired supermini may glance – and it is a important departure from the Yugo Britons will know…
Does the unique Yugo have a different position on your middle?
Of path. Otherwise, I would not cross on any such loopy adventure with the brand new Yugo.
The first Yugo rings a bell in my memory of my youth. When I were in Yugoslavia with my oldsters, maximum of my kinfolk had a Yugo or a Zastava.
My first using reviews have been in an outdated Yugo 45 from my uncle in Serbia on the age of 13. I guess that was once the beginning of my interest as a petroleum head.
What is particular concerning the Yugo title and why do you wish to have to convey it again?
What’s particular concerning the title Yugo is its origins. Most of the folk assume ‘Yugo’ derives from the title Yugoslavia. However, that is unfaithful. The first actual fashions have been referred to as Jugo with a ‘J’ as it was once named after the nice and cozy and humid Adriatic wind that blows from the south.
The Yugo title is essential to me as it was once a home-made automobile, created by way of the Yugoslavians and with portions from in all places the rustic.
Furthermore, Yugo had the similar goal as Ford with the Model T and Volkswagen with the Beetle: to create a automobile for everybody.
Darko Marčeta’s design imaginative and prescient for a reborn Yugo was once unveiled in February, with the corporate getting ready to create a full-scale prototype within the subsequent 12 months
The first Yugo will probably be referred to as the Siaj and is an inexpensive three-door supermini. But extra Yugos will observe…
The Yugo earned the moniker the ‘worst automobile in historical past’. Do you assume that is honest and is your purpose to fix its popularity?
The first Yugo gained the name ‘the worst automobile in historical past’ from the Americans.
Nevertheless, you need to take into accounts that during 1985, when Yugo was once exported to the United States for the primary time, it’s been essentially the most imported automobile of all manufacturers in that yr.
Nowadays, the Yugo has an overly sturdy fan base and an iconic standing. Therefore, there is not any wish to restore the popularity because it was once now not as dangerous as many Americans described it.
You additionally need to imagine its value of $3,990. Cars two times the cost of the Yugo have been no worse and undoubtedly no higher.
You have enlisted the assistance of automobile dressmaker Darko Marčeta. Is it essential {that a} Serbian is penning the brand new Yugo?
Darko has up to now designed multi-functional armoured cars. It isn’t essential that the dressmaker is Serbian or former Yugoslavian or every other nationality. What’s essential is that he is just right and understands what the necessities of the brand new Yugo are.
But I will have to admit, it’s beautiful to look how engaged and concerned an individual from ex-Yugoslavia is on the subject of the brand new Yugo – and that is crucial issue as smartly, after all.
We are these days a small group of simply seven other folks, together with Darko and myself. However, we have now a number of advisors and mentors who give a boost to us. The corporate is based totally in Germany, however we can quickly open a subsidiary in Serbia.
Currently, I’m investment the challenge.
Bjelić says it’s going to to start with be offered as an ‘inexpensive’ three-door hatchback, although with the possibility of ‘other frame variations’ to observe
To stay prices down, it goals to debut with a petroleum engine and selection of handbook or automated gearboxes. However, Yugo Automobile additionally says ‘electrified variations are conceivable’
What will the primary Yugo be referred to as?
The title of the primary type of the brand new Yugo logo – a small three-door hatchback – is Siaj.
This is a mix of the primary letters of the names of my youngsters: Saleena Isabella and Alisa Jasmin.
In the global language of Esperanto, Siaj additionally manner ‘to be’.
Who is the brand new Yugo geared toward? Is it older motorists who take into account the unique Yugo or more youthful drivers short of affordable motoring?
I believe this will probably be a mix between the more youthful and older technology. The older ones who take into account the primary Yugo with that nostalgic contact and the more youthful ones on the lookout for an inexpensive using system which is amusing.
The dimension of the auto may be an characteristic that may cater for each.
Where will Yugos be offered?
We see Yugo being to be had in all related markets the place manufacturers like Dacia and Fiat are these days offered.
Of path, because of the historical past, markets within the former Yugoslavia and the Balkans will probably be a powerful focal point, however now not solely.
Given the deficient popularity of the unique Yugo in America, will it even be to be had there?
If I used to be the one resolution maker, I might undoubtedly goal the United States.
Despite Yugo’s dangerous popularity and jokes concerning the automobile previously, the fanbase in America is rising and rising – I observe a number of US automobile meets and am a part of communities and will see this taking place.
I can give my advice to release in the United States for the reason that marketplace dimension is massive and there may be room for a small automobile for the United States marketplace, however this [decision] isn’t solely relying on myself.
The absolutely running prototype that is been promised in two years’ time will probably be showcased on the Belgrade Expo 2027
Bjelić says he’s in quest of an car ‘cooperation spouse’ to show the concept that into truth to supply it on a borrowed platform
You have mentioned that you simply hope to unveil a full-scale prototype on the Belgrade Expo in 2027. Will this be a operating prototype with an engine?
That’s now not just a hope. It is a reality. We will found in 2027 a operating prototype with a four-cylinder combustion engine. The group already began the paintings.
The engine and drivetrain is supplied by way of a spouse, which I can’t title but.
When do you hope the primary manufacturing automobile may well be introduced?
We are these days on the lookout for a ‘cooperation spouse’ to fabricate the Siaj. So, it’s going to rely on after we protected an OEM for collection manufacturing. If the fitting spouse may also be discovered at the newest by way of 2027, then production may get started in 2028/2029.
Speaking on the Munich automobile design tournament, Bjelić mentioned the project for the Siaj is to ‘keep the heritage of the outdated Yugo and create a design to convey the following Yugo into the longer term’
The boss of the relaunched Yugo title mentioned he desires to create one thing older drivers straight away recognise
The Yugo Siaj will probably be an identical in size to a Ford Fiesta. The thought type is a three-door – conserving true to the unique
What engine do you assume would easiest swimsuit the Yugo Siaj?
The prototype will use a four-cylinder engine, and we wish the manufacturing type to have a selection of a 120hp 1.2-litre unit or a 150hp 1.4-litre motor.
In my opinion, that is the most suitable choice for any such passenger automobile of compact dimension and weight. It has attainable for a pocket rocket.
How a lot do you are expecting the Yugo Siaj to price when it does release?
The goal is to be beneath €20,000 (£17,000). This is a will have to, in a different way the philosophy at the back of the Yugo would fail.
It will probably be an access stage type however with the entire main wishes of a contemporary automobile, equivalent to keyless access, electrical home windows and mirrors, local weather keep watch over and navigation – this must be integrated however it will have to stay beneath €20,000, else the challenge would fail.
This is practical. I’ve spoken to OEMs and manufacturers about prices and constructions and it is not one thing that cannot be met.
What different Yugo fashions are within the pipeline?
We have designed six months in general together with Siaj. We are these days running with excessive drive on a two-door Yugo Roadster, which will probably be introduced in a 1:5 scale type in Germany in September.
And in October, we can be in New York presenting a Yugo SUV.
A five-door hatchback, convertible four-seat type [a nod back to the soft-top original], and high-roof minivan for business use [similar to a VW Caddy] are below construction.
