Tunisian Company of Automotive Industry

The Tunisian Company of Automotive Industry (Société tunisienne d'industrie automobile, STIA) is a Tunisian industrial bodybuilding and vehicle-assembly company based in the Sidi Abdelhamid industrial zone of Sousse. Founded on 30 March 1961, STIA built its business on the assembly of vehicles from CKD (completely knocked-down) kits supplied by foreign manufacturers, and on the manufacture of industrial bodywork. Its product range has historically covered buses, touring coaches and trucks, with the basic components delivered in kit form and assembled locally. STIA's early decades were closely tied to the Tunisian state and to European automotive partners. Assembly of the Renault 4 began in January 1964, and the first utility vehicles were produced three years later. In 1972 Citroën signed an agreement for the assembly of the 2 CV and 3 CV, and Renault and Peugeot vehicles were also assembled. In 1987 the Tunisian government refocused the company: production of passenger cars and light vans was ended in favour of heavy vehicles — buses, utility vehicles, tractors and trucks. The state launched the privatisation of STIA in 2006. After repeated delays and extensions of the deadline for takeover bids, STIA — then a subsidiary of the Société tunisienne de banque — was privatised in 2008 and sold to the Mabrouk group through its company ICAR, which took over all the assets and activity of the company in February 2009. The STIA brand was retained. ICAR invested in the production tool and in 2013 built a new bus and coach bodywork plant with modern installations (paint booths and laser cutters) on a covered surface of 27,000 m², capable of producing 700 coaches and buses and 4,000 trucks and pick-ups per year. Today STIA operates as a Tunisian industrial vehicle bodybuilder and assembler serving the domestic market, with after-sales services that include periodic customer visits, training of customer technicians and technical assistance. Its registered office and plant are located in the Sidi Abdelhamid industrial zone in Sousse.

The Société tunisienne d'industrie automobile (STIA) was founded on 30 March 1961 as a Tunisian industrial bodybuilding and vehicle-assembly company. Its model was to assemble vehicles from CKD (completely knocked-down) kits supplied by foreign manufacturers, combining imported mechanical components with locally built bodywork. In January 1964, assembly of the Renault 4 began, marking the company's entry into passenger-car assembly. Three years later, the first utility vehicles were produced. In 1972, Citroën concluded an agreement for the assembly of the 2 CV and 3 CV models. Renault and Peugeot vehicles were also assembled at the plant during this period, making STIA a multi-brand assembly site for the Tunisian market. In 1987, the Tunisian government refocused production: the manufacture of passenger cars and light vans was ended in favour of heavy vehicles — buses, utility vehicles, tractors and trucks. This shift defined STIA's subsequent identity as a builder of industrial and public-transport vehicles rather than a passenger-car assembler. The Tunisian state launched the privatisation of STIA in 2006. The process was marked by numerous postponements and extensions of the deadline for the submission of takeover offers. STIA, at that time a subsidiary of the Société tunisienne de banque, was privatised in 2008 and sold to the Mabrouk group through its company ICAR, which took over all of the company's assets and activity in February 2009. The STIA brand was retained after the takeover. ICAR invested in the production tool and, in 2013, built a new plant for bus and coach bodywork equipped with modern installations including paint booths and laser cutters. The new facility covers 27,000 m² and is designed to produce 700 coaches and buses and 4,000 trucks and pick-ups annually. STIA continues to operate from its historic base in the Sidi Abdelhamid industrial zone in Sousse, where its registered office is located. Its after-sales offer includes periodic visits to customers, training of customer technicians and technical assistance.

• 2013

  New bus and coach bodywork plant built, with 27,000 m² covered surface and capacity for 700 coaches/buses and 4,000 trucks/pick-ups per year.

• 2009

  ICAR takes over all assets and activity of STIA in February 2009.

• 2008

  STIA privatised and sold to the Mabrouk group via ICAR.

• 2006

  Tunisian state launches privatisation of STIA.

• 1987

  Government refocuses production on heavy vehicles; passenger car and light van production ends.

• 1972

  Citroën agreement for assembly of 2 CV and 3 CV; Renault and Peugeot vehicles also assembled.

• 1967

  First utility vehicles produced.

• 1964

  Assembly of the Renault 4 begins in January 1964.

• 1961

  STIA founded on 30 March 1961.

Tunisian industrial bodybuilder and CKD vehicle assembler focused on heavy vehicles for the domestic market.

• Buses

• Touring coaches

• Trucks

• Utility vehicles

• Tractors

• Pick-ups

1. 1STIA official websitestia.com.tn
2. 2STIA Servicesstia.com.tn
3. 3Wikidata: Tunisian Company of Automotive Industrywikidata.org
4. 4Société tunisienne d'industrie automobile — Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org