At the Car Design Event 2025 in Munich, a model was presented that reveals the design of the future Yugo, a city car similar to the model produced in Kragujevac, Yugoslavia, in the 1980s and 1990s.
The three-door hatchback draws inspiration from the legendary original with its restrained dimensions and flat, minimalist surfaces. All of this is adorned with modern details such as light signatures, an illuminated grille and the brand logo.
In the final production version, the Yugo will return as an affordable three-door model under the reborn name Yugo Automobile, and all thanks to Dr. Aleksandar Bjelić, a German professor with roots in Serbia.
After the presentation of the model, the Daily Mail spoke exclusively with Aleksandar, who describes himself as a car collector, an active member of several car clubs and a representative of FIVA, the global classic car federation. His experience in the automotive industry stems from 20 years of active work in several national and international management positions in the automotive sector, at ZF, Bosch, Behr…
– The special thing about the name Yugo is its history. Most people think that ‘Yugo’ comes from the name Yugoslavia. However, that is not true. The first models were called Jugo with the letter ‘J’, and they were named after the warm and humid Adriatic wind that blows from the south. The name Yugo (Yugo) is important to me because it was a home-made car with parts from all over the country. The Yugo had the same goal as Ford with the Model T and Volkswagen with the Beetle: to make a car for everyone. You have to consider that when the Yugo was first imported to the US, it was the car that Americans imported the most in 1985. Today, the Yugo has a very strong fan base and cult status. Therefore, there is no need to repair its reputation because it was not as bad as many Americans described it. Many ignore its price at the time of $3,990. Cars that were twice as expensive as the Yugo were no worse, but no better either.
He points out that the new Jugo will be available in all relevant markets where brands such as Dacia and Fiat are currently sold, reports Indikator. Of course, due to history, the markets of the former Yugoslavia and the Balkans will be in strong focus, but not exclusively.
– In 2027, we will present a prototype with a four-cylinder internal combustion engine. The team has already started work – he points out.
According to him, the goal is to keep the price below 20,000 euros.
– I have talked to various manufacturers about the costs and this price is not unrealistic, it can be met. The name of the first model of the new Jugo brand, a small three-door hatchback, will be Siaj. This is a combination of the first letters of my children’s names: Saleena Isabella and Alisa Jasmin – Aleksandar Bjelić concludes for Yugo press.
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