From today’s perspective of almost entirely destroyed industry, it is almost unrealistic to recall a time when extremely demanding products were coming out of factories from BiH.
One of prides of BH economy back then was the automotive industry, which was famous and recognized not only in the territory of former Yugoslavia but in the entire Europe as well.
Everything started in Pretis, the company similar to Zastava from Kragujevac, which decided to complete its program of the military industry with the production of motor vehicles.
They managed to achieve cooperation with NSU, and scooters Maxi and Prima were assembled in Vogosca under license, and the program was further expanded to cars in 1965 with model “Prince” NSU 1000.
Exactly half a century ago, back in 1967, started assembly of 22 centimeters long NSU Typ 110, which evolved into NSU 1200 very soon.
The basic version of the Sarajevo NSU 1200 cost about 1.8 million dinars, and the average salary amounted to 100,000 dinars.
They were producing about 5 000 vehicles a year, in accordance with the principle of MKD assembly. Painted body of the car would arrive in Pretis, and then they assembled other parts, including some local components, such as cable wires, batteries, tires etc…
On July 1, 1971, the construction of a new factory for assembling Volkswagen Beetle started in Vogosca, and it replaced the legendary “Prince” next year (1972).
(Source: Radiosarajevo.ba)
