INTRODUCTION OF INDUSTRIAL ROBOTS (IR) INTO THE PRODUCTION PROCESS DOES NOT REPRESENT A SIMPLE SUBSTITUTION OF THE EXISTING MANIPULATION SYSTEM WITH THE IR, BUT IT REQUIRES THE COMPLETE INTEGRATION WITH THE SUBSYSTEMS OF THE MANUFACTURING SYSTEM. STARTING FROM THE ANALYSIS OF THE EXISTING FLEXIBILITY AND PRODUCTIVITY LEVELS IN YUGOSLAV CAR PRODUCTION INDUSTRY, AS WELL AS AT THE LEADING CAR PRODUCERS IN THE WORLD, THIS PAPER FORMS THE OPTIMAL STRATEGY FOR REVITALIZATION OF THE CAR PRODUCTION INDUSTRY. AS THE OUTPUT OF THE MODE THE TOTAL EFFECTS OF THE REVITALIZATION ARE OBTAINED (AND ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA OF THE APPLICATION OF THE IR, FROM THE ASPECT OF THE PRODUCTIVITY). IDENTIFIED ARE THE SOURCES OF LOSSES AND MEASURES THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN FOR THE SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION OF THE IR.