The rare echo of the railway siren’s whistle evokes memories of the past when locomotives pulled the wagons that transported the pride of the former automobile empire – Tvornica Automobila Sarajevo (TAS) to all corners of the world.
Today, dilapidated railway sleepers in Vogosca stand as silent witnesses. There are no more car-laden trains that used to run along this line.
The promising automotive industry was abruptly stopped by the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), casting a shadow of uncertainty on the reconstruction and future production of vehicles in these areas.
The damaged and overgrown tracks hardly carried any significant car transport from the end of the war until today.
Reconnecting railway tracks with world markets seems impossible. And it used to be a time when cars were a symbol of prosperity and development, while every rumble of a train brought special joy and hope for a better tomorrow, writes Al Jazeera Balkans.
Bring the giant to life
Subtle nostalgia for bygone times, when the hustle and bustle of trains and cars filled the air, remained only in the hearts of those who witnessed it firsthand. The desire to revive this once vibrant industry, despite advances in technology, has been absent. However, the question arises: should we really accept this fate or is it possible to find a way to revive the former industrial giant?
Founded in 1948, the company Pretis played a key role in shaping the automotive industry in BiH. Starting with the cooperation with the German factory NSU in the early 1960s, Pretis became recognizable for the production of various models of scooters, motorcycles and cars.
After the formation of the complex company Metalne industrije UNIS, Pretis was focused on the weapons industry, while the car production was transferred to the Car Factory – Tvornica Automobila (TAS), which was formed in 1969 on the basis of a contract with the German concern Volkswagen.
The steering wheel on the right
This marked the golden period of the automotive industry in Vogosca. Assembly of the popular Volkswagen model Beetle began in 1972, and later other popular models such as the Golf 1and Golf 2 were produced. About 25,000 Golfs were produced annually, and models such as the Jetta and Caddy were also produced.
The Golf 2 is still driving
Although some of the legendary Golf 2 can still be spotted on the streets, most of the cars that were produced during that period did not manage to continue the series and survive to this day.
