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GAC Fiat Chrysler
View on WikipediaKey Information
| GAC Fiat Chrysler | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simplified Chinese | 广汽菲亚特克莱斯勒 | ||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 廣汽菲亞特克萊斯勒 | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| GAC FCA | |||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 广汽菲克 | ||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 廣汽菲克 | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
GAC Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Co., Ltd. was an automobile manufacturing company headquartered in Changsha, China. It was a 50:50 joint-venture between the GAC Group and Stellantis. The company was founded on 9 March 2010.[3] Fiat agreed to invest an initial US$559 million in the venture.[6]
History
[edit]Fiat and GAC signed a joint venture agreement in Rome on 6 July 2009, in the presence of Chinese President Hu Jintao and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.[6] Construction of GAC Fiat facilities in Changsha began on 26 November 2009, with a groundbreaking ceremony attended by the Italian ambassador to China, the provincial leaders of Hunan and Guangdong, and city leaders of Changsha and Guangzhou.[7] GAC Fiat Automobiles Co., Ltd. was incorporated on 9 March 2010.[3]
The Changsha assembly plant was officially opened on 28 June 2012, in a ceremony attended by Fiat chief executive Sergio Marchionne and representatives of Hunan and Guandong provinces.[8]
In January 2013, it was announced that GAC Fiat would be also expanded to include Chrysler, and that, GAC Fiat would construct a new assembly plant in Guangzhou for the production of Jeep products.[9][10]
In January 2015, GAC Fiat was renamed as GAC Fiat Chrysler.[11]
In January 2022, Stellantis announced a plan to take a 75% majority stake of the joint venture.[12] GAC quickly responded that no formal agreement to change the joint venture had been signed.[13] In July, Stellantis announced that due to a lack of progress in its attempt to take a greater stake in the company, it was terminating the joint venture with GAC. Stellantis planned to shut down local production operations and move towards importing Jeep vehicles to the Chinese market.[14] Later that year, the joint venture filed for bankruptcy.[15][16]
Operations
[edit]GAC Fiat had facilities in Changsha, with an annual production capacity of 140,000 cars and 220,000 engines, covering around 700,000 m2.[7] Vehicle production began in June 2012, with the Fiat Viaggio four-door sedan.[3][17][18] Later, the company started to manufacture the Ottimo (the hatchback version of the Viaggio).[19] In October 2013, GAC Fiat announced the construction of a second manufacturing plant in Guangzhou.[20] In November 2014, Fiat Chrysler and GAC expanded their partnership to produce Jeep vehicles.[19] The Changsha plant began assembling the Jeep Cherokee in October 2015 and the Guangzhou plant began assembling the Jeep Renegade in April 2016.[21] In late 2016, the Guangzhou plant began assembling the Jeep Compass. In 2018, the Changsha plant began manufacturing the Jeep Grand Commander.[22]
Former production
[edit]Sales figures
[edit]By year
[edit]| Year | Fiat[24] | Jeep[25] | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 11,288 | 0 | 11,288 |
| 2013 | 48,375 | 0 | 48,375 |
| 2014 | 68,090 | 0 | 68,090 |
| 2015 | 31,481 | 8,005 | 39,486 |
| 2016 | 12,699 | 133,009 | 145,708 |
| 2017 | 2,273 | 202,755 | 205,028 |
| 2018 | 269 | 124,514 | 124,783 |
| 2019 | 23 | 72,956 | 72,979 |
| 2020 | 0 | 40,659 | 40,659 |
| 2021 | 0 | 20,357 | 20,357 |
| Total | 174,498 | 602,255 | 776,753 |
By model
[edit]- Fiat Ottimo: 40,002
- Fiat Viaggio: 134,496
- Jeep Cherokee: 253,045
- Jeep Compass: 215,160
- Jeep Grand Commander: 43,039
- Jeep Renegade: 91,011
References
[edit]- ^ "GAC-Fiat: No plan to launch Chrysler brand any time soon". China Automotive Review. 10 August 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
- ^ "New venture formed for Fiat's second act". China Daily. 27 September 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Company Profile". GAC Fiat Automobiles Co., Ltd. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
- ^ "GAC-Fiat Chrysler's Bankrupt Chinese JV Halts Plant Auction for Lack of Bidders". www.yicaiglobal.com. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
- ^ "GAC-Fiat Chrysler's Chinese JV Plant Fails to Sell at Auction for Third Time". www.yicaiglobal.com. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
- ^ a b "Fiat Focuses on China". Bloomberg Businessweek. 7 July 2009. Archived from the original on July 10, 2009. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
- ^ a b "GAC-Fiat ceremony heralds joint venture". China Daily. 30 November 2009. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
- ^ "Fiat opens new Chinese plant to produce Viaggio". Straits Times. 28 June 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
- ^ "Fiat-Chrysler, Guangzhou ink Jeep deal". The Detroit News. 16 January 2013. Archived from the original on 15 February 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
- ^ "Fiat, Chrysler to produce Jeep in China: paper". Reuters. 14 January 2013. Archived from the original on 23 April 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
- ^ "To create a brighter future with soaring aspirations, GAC Group participated in the 16th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition" (Press release). GAC. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 22 January 2019 – via automotiveworld.com.
- ^ "Stellantis Plans to Take Majority Share in Joint Venture with GAC in China | Stellantis". www.stellantis.com. Retrieved 2022-07-18.
- ^ Doll, Scooter (2022-08-02). "GAC calls out Stellantis CEO for 'lack of respect' toward Chinese customers amid failed Jeep joint venture". Electrek. Retrieved 2022-12-25.
- ^ "Stellantis Implements Asset-light Approach to Grow Jeep® Brand in China and Negotiates Termination of Local Joint Venture with GAC Group". www.media.stellantis.com. Retrieved 2022-07-18.
- ^ "Stellantis Jeep joint venture in China to file for bankruptcy". Reuters. 2022-10-31. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
- ^ 负债81亿元,广汽菲克破产申请获法院受理 [With a debt of 8.1 billion yuan, the bankruptcy application of GAC FCA was accepted by the court]. The Paper (in Chinese (China)). 2022-12-01. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
- ^ "Fiat unveils new Viaggio model to be made and sold in China". Reuters. 13 April 2012. Archived from the original on January 29, 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
- ^ "GAC Fiat Chrysler". Chinaautoweb.com. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
- ^ a b "Fiat Chrysler deepens China partnership to help Jeep". Automotive News Europe. Crain Communications. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
- ^ "Fiat's China JV to build second plant to produce SUVs, EVs, report says". Automotive News Europe. Crain Communications. 29 October 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
- ^ "First Chinese-Built Jeep Renegade Rolls Off Production Line in Guangzhou". The Wheels Network. 20 April 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
- ^ "FCA, GAC launch Jeep Commander output in Changsha". Automotive News China. 10 April 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
- ^ a b "Fiat: stop alla produzione di Viaggio e Ottimo in Cina". Investireoggi.it. March 27, 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-04-29. Retrieved 2017-04-27.
- ^ "Fiat China sales figures". Car Sales Base. 26 February 2015.
- ^ "Jeep China sales figures". Car Sales Base. 12 December 2015.
External links
[edit]GAC Fiat Chrysler
View on GrokipediaFormation and Early Development
Establishment and Ownership Structure
GAC Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Co., Ltd. was established on March 9, 2010, as a 50:50 joint venture between Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. (GAC Group), a Chinese state-owned automaker, and Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A., with each partner contributing equally to the equity structure.[9][10][1] The formation complied with China's regulatory requirements for foreign automakers, mandating partnerships with domestic firms and capping foreign ownership at 50%.[7] This equal ownership ensured joint decision-making on operations, with board representation from both sides, though GAC Group's majority state control via the Guangdong provincial government indirectly influenced strategic alignments favoring local market priorities.[11] The venture initially focused on manufacturing and distributing Fiat-branded passenger vehicles, with Fiat committing an initial investment of approximately US$559 million to support plant development in Changsha, Hunan province.[4] Following Fiat's 2014 merger with Chrysler Group to form Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), the joint venture expanded to include Jeep SUVs and other Chrysler products, rebranding as GAC FCA while retaining the 50:50 ownership split.[12][13] Over time, cumulative investments reached around 17 billion yuan (approximately US$2.4 billion), funding production capacity targeted at 140,000-250,000 units annually, though actual output lagged due to market challenges.[1][14] In 2015, the partners created a wholly owned subsidiary, GAC FCA Automobiles Sales Co., Ltd., to handle nationwide distribution, marketing, and after-sales services, integrating it under the joint venture's unified management led by executives from both shareholders.[12][4] This structure preserved the core 50:50 equity balance until 2022, when FCA's successor, Stellantis, proposed acquiring a majority stake amid operational underperformance, though the venture's establishment phase emphasized balanced foreign-local collaboration to navigate China's protected automotive sector.[9][15]Initial Investments and Strategic Agreements
The GAC Fiat joint venture was formally established on March 9, 2010, as a 50:50 equity partnership between Fiat Group Automobiles and Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC), aimed at manufacturing and selling Fiat-brand passenger vehicles and engines in the Chinese market.[16] The agreement, initially negotiated in 2009, complied with China's foreign investment regulations requiring local partnerships for automotive production and focused on localizing Fiat models to capture growing demand for compact and mid-size sedans.[17] Fiat committed an initial investment of approximately US$556 million (equivalent to over 400 million euros at the time) to fund the construction of a dedicated assembly plant in Changsha, Hunan province, with production capacity targeted at 140,000 vehicles annually upon completion.[18] This capital infusion covered facility development, technology transfer for Fiat's powertrains and platforms, and initial supplier network setup, reflecting Fiat's strategy to re-enter China's passenger car segment after prior unsuccessful ventures.[19] GAC contributed equivalent value through land, local infrastructure, and distribution channels, ensuring balanced ownership and operational control.[20] The strategic framework emphasized technology localization, joint R&D for China-specific adaptations, and phased model introductions, starting with Fiat's Viaggio sedan derived from the Dodge Dart platform.[16] No immediate expansion to Chrysler or Jeep brands was included in the founding agreements, limiting scope to Fiat's European lineup to mitigate risks in an unproven market entry.[20] Subsequent amendments in 2013 and 2014 broadened the mandate to include Chrysler Group products, but these built upon the initial Fiat-centric structure rather than altering core investment terms.[21]Operations and Production
Manufacturing Facilities
GAC Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Co., Ltd. primarily operated two vehicle manufacturing plants in China, located in Changsha, Hunan Province, and Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, with an additional engine production facility in Changsha.[22][23] The Changsha plant, the joint venture's headquarters and initial production base, began construction on November 26, 2009, and commenced operations in June 2012, initially focusing on Fiat models before shifting to Jeep SUVs.[24][25] Its first-phase annual capacity was 140,000 vehicles, supported by an adjacent engine plant with a capacity of 220,000 units, covering approximately 700,000 square meters of land.[26] The Guangzhou plant, situated in the Panyu District within GAC Group's passenger vehicle manufacturing base, opened on April 18, 2016, to expand Jeep production for the Chinese market, including models like the Jeep Cherokee and Compass.[26][27] Together, the two plants achieved a combined annual vehicle production capacity of 328,000 units by 2021, though actual output remained far below this due to declining sales.[23][28] In response to operational losses and low demand, GAC FCA announced in September 2021 plans to halt production at the Guangzhou facility and relocate its main manufacturing assets to the Changsha plant to consolidate operations and reduce costs.[29][28] Following the joint venture's bankruptcy declaration on July 9, 2025, both facilities ceased automotive production, with assets subject to liquidation proceedings.[14][22]Key Models Produced
GAC Fiat Chrysler began production with Fiat-brand vehicles tailored for the Chinese market. The Fiat Viaggio, a compact sedan based on the Dodge Dart platform, was manufactured from 2012 to 2017 at the Changsha facility.[30] Similarly, the Fiat Freemont crossover and Bravo compact car were produced during the early years of the joint venture, though in limited volumes under 10,000 units annually.[5] The Fiat Ottimo, a five-door hatchback variant of the Viaggio, entered production in 2014 and continued until 2017.[30] Following the 2014 expansion agreement, the joint venture shifted emphasis to Jeep SUVs, leveraging the brand's appeal in China's growing premium SUV segment. Production of the Jeep Cherokee midsize SUV commenced in late 2015, marking the first locally assembled Jeep model and utilizing a dedicated line at the Changsha plant with an initial capacity for 140,000 units annually.[31] [32] The Cherokee featured a 2.4-liter inline-four engine adapted for local emissions standards and was positioned as a premium offering with seven-seat configurations in some variants.[31] Subsequent Jeep models bolstered the lineup. The Jeep Renegade subcompact SUV rolled off the assembly line in April 2016 at the Guangzhou plant, incorporating World Class Manufacturing standards and local content to reduce costs.[26] The Jeep Compass compact SUV followed in 2016, produced alongside the Renegade to target urban consumers seeking versatile crossovers.[1] In 2018, the China-exclusive Jeep Grand Commander three-row SUV entered production, developed specifically for the market with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and optional plug-in hybrid powertrain introduced in 2019.[33] [34] These Jeep models constituted the core of GAC Fiat Chrysler's output from 2016 onward, with adaptations including front-wheel-drive configurations and multimedia systems compliant with Chinese regulations. Production of all models ceased following the joint venture's termination in July 2022, after which Stellantis shifted to importing Jeeps.[35]Market Performance and Sales
Annual Sales Data
GAC Fiat Chrysler's vehicle sales expanded significantly following the introduction of locally produced Jeep models such as the Renegade and Compass, achieving a peak of 205,200 units in 2017.[30] This marked a 57% increase from 2016, when sales totaled 146,400 units amid a 270.84% year-over-year surge driven by initial market penetration.[30] Subsequent years saw a pronounced downturn, with 2018 sales falling to 125,100 units, a 38.99% decline attributed to emerging quality concerns and intensifying domestic competition.[30] The trajectory continued downward, reaching 73,900 units in 2019, 40,500 units in 2020 amid pandemic disruptions, and 20,100 units in 2021.[1]| Year | Sales (units) |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 146,400[30] |
| 2017 | 205,200[30] |
| 2018 | 125,100[30] |
| 2019 | 73,900[1] |
| 2020 | 40,500[1] |
| 2021 | 20,100[1] |

