GAC Fiat Chrysler
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA former 50:50 GAC Group–Fiat Chrysler joint venture that manufactured Fiat and Jeep vehicles in China.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
GAC Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Co., Ltd. was a Chinese automobile manufacturing joint venture created by GAC Group and Fiat, later Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Stellantis. Although its corporate name changed to reflect the addition of Chrysler, its most visible business in China became the local production and sale of Jeep sport-utility vehicles. The venture was headquartered in Changsha and operated manufacturing facilities in Changsha and Guangzhou. The partnership originated in an agreement signed in Rome on 6 July 2009 by Fiat and GAC Group. The agreement was concluded in the presence of Chinese President Hu Jintao and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Construction of the first facility, in Changsha, began in November 2009, and the joint venture was formally incorporated on 9 March 2010. Fiat committed an initial investment of approximately US$559 million. The Changsha complex was designed with annual capacity of about 140,000 vehicles and 220,000 engines, and covered approximately 700,000 square metres. The Changsha plant opened in June 2012. Its first locally produced vehicle was the Fiat Viaggio, a four-door sedan, followed by the Fiat Ottimo hatchback. These models represented Fiat's attempt to build a stronger locally manufactured passenger-car presence in China, but the venture later moved toward the Jeep brand, whose SUV positioning was better aligned with the Chinese market's expanding demand for crossovers and sport-utility vehicles. In 2013, the partners announced that Chrysler would be incorporated into the cooperation and that a second factory would be built in Guangzhou for Jeep production. The company adopted the name GAC Fiat Chrysler in January 2015. The Changsha plant began assembling the Jeep Cherokee in October 2015, while the Guangzhou facility started production of the Jeep Renegade in April 2016 and the Jeep Compass later in 2016. Changsha subsequently added the Jeep Grand Commander in 2018. The venture's product portfolio therefore covered compact and midsize passenger cars during its Fiat phase and a broader range of SUVs during its Jeep phase. Reported cumulative model figures included 134,496 Fiat Viaggios, 40,002 Fiat Ottimos, 253,045 Jeep Cherokees, 215,160 Jeep Compasses, 43,039 Jeep Grand Commanders, and 91,011 Jeep Renegades. These figures reflect the production or sales totals presented in the referenced Wikipedia material and are not treated here as current activity. The relationship deteriorated after Stellantis sought a larger ownership position. In January 2022, Stellantis announced a plan to raise its stake to 75 percent, while GAC stated that no formal agreement to alter the joint-venture structure had been signed. In July 2022, Stellantis said that it was ending the joint venture after failing to make progress on the proposed ownership change. Stellantis indicated that it would end local Jeep production and rely more heavily on imported vehicles for the Chinese market. Later in 2022, GAC Fiat Chrysler filed for bankruptcy. The company is consequently treated as defunct rather than as an active vehicle manufacturer.
History
GAC Fiat Chrysler developed from a strategic cooperation between GAC Group and Fiat. The companies signed their joint-venture agreement in Rome on 6 July 2009. Construction of the first factory in Changsha began on 26 November 2009, and GAC Fiat Automobiles Co., Ltd. was incorporated on 9 March 2010. Fiat's planned initial contribution was approximately US$559 million. The Changsha facility opened on 28 June 2012. With stated annual capacity of around 140,000 vehicles and 220,000 engines, it became the venture's initial manufacturing base. Production began with the Fiat Viaggio sedan, followed by the Fiat Ottimo hatchback. The operation gave Fiat a local production platform in China, while GAC gained an additional international passenger-vehicle partner. The partnership was expanded in 2013 to include Chrysler products. The companies announced plans for a second plant in Guangzhou to manufacture Jeep vehicles, and the corporate name changed from GAC Fiat to GAC Fiat Chrysler in January 2015. The strategic emphasis then moved increasingly toward Jeep SUVs. Changsha started assembling the Jeep Cherokee in October 2015. Guangzhou began assembling the Jeep Renegade in April 2016 and added the Jeep Compass later in the year. In 2018, Changsha began production of the Jeep Grand Commander. The two factories supported a portfolio that combined Fiat sedans and hatchbacks with Jeep crossovers and larger SUVs. The venture's reported cumulative model figures were 40,002 Fiat Ottimos, 134,496 Fiat Viaggios, 253,045 Jeep Cherokees, 215,160 Jeep Compasses, 43,039 Jeep Grand Commanders, and 91,011 Jeep Renegades. The available reference material does not provide a complete annual sales series, profitability history, or detailed plant-utilization data. Following Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' combination with the PSA Group, Stellantis became the venture's international partner. In January 2022, Stellantis announced its intention to take a 75 percent stake. GAC stated that the parties had not signed a formal agreement changing the 50:50 structure. In July, Stellantis said that it was terminating the joint venture because the ownership discussions had not advanced. Stellantis planned to stop local Jeep manufacturing and serve China more through imported vehicles. Later in 2022, GAC Fiat Chrysler filed for bankruptcy. Its production activities and corporate operations are therefore historical rather than ongoing.
- 2022
Ownership dispute and termination
[1]Stellantis proposed majority ownership, but the parties did not reach a formal agreement. Stellantis later announced termination of the joint venture.
- 2022
Bankruptcy filing
[1]The joint venture filed for bankruptcy after local production was scheduled to end.
- 2018
Jeep Grand Commander joins local production
[1]The Changsha facility began manufacturing the Jeep Grand Commander.
- 2016
Guangzhou Jeep production begins
[1]The Guangzhou plant started assembling the Jeep Renegade in April and the Jeep Compass later in the year.
- 2015
Company is renamed GAC Fiat Chrysler
[1]The company adopted the GAC Fiat Chrysler name in January.
- 2015
Jeep Cherokee production begins
[1]The Changsha plant began assembling the Jeep Cherokee in October.
- 2013
Chrysler expansion is announced
[1]The partnership was expanded to include Chrysler, with a second factory planned in Guangzhou for Jeep production.
- 2012
Changsha plant opens
[1]The Changsha factory officially opened and began producing the Fiat Viaggio.
- 2010
GAC Fiat Automobiles is incorporated
[1]The joint-venture company was formally incorporated on 9 March.
- 2009
Fiat and GAC sign the joint-venture agreement
[1]The companies signed the agreement in Rome on 6 July, establishing the basis for a Fiat manufacturing venture in China.
Products and positioning
A China-based joint-venture manufacturer positioned first around locally produced Fiat passenger cars and later around Jeep SUVs.
Passenger car · 2012
Fiat Viaggio
A four-door Fiat sedan and the first vehicle produced by the Changsha plant. It represented the venture's initial attempt to establish Fiat as a locally manufactured passenger-car brand in China before the business shifted toward Jeep SUVs.
Hatchback
Fiat Ottimo
The hatchback counterpart to the Fiat Viaggio. It broadened the venture's early Fiat passenger-car range but was later eclipsed within the joint venture by Jeep-branded SUV production.
SUV · 2015
Jeep Cherokee
A Jeep SUV assembled at Changsha from October 2015. Its production marked the venture's transition from Fiat-focused passenger cars toward locally manufactured Jeep utility vehicles.
Subcompact SUV · 2016
Jeep Renegade
A compact Jeep model assembled at the Guangzhou facility beginning in April 2016. It formed part of the locally produced Jeep range developed after the partnership was expanded to include Chrysler.
Compact SUV · 2016
Jeep Compass
A compact SUV assembled at Guangzhou from late 2016. It was one of the venture's principal Jeep products in China and had the largest reported cumulative figure among the Guangzhou-produced models in the supplied reference data.
Midsize SUV · 2018
Jeep Grand Commander
A larger Jeep SUV added to Changsha production in 2018. It extended the locally manufactured Jeep portfolio into a higher-capacity vehicle category before the joint venture's eventual closure.
Controversies
2017
Jeep Cherokee and Compass: massive recalls, 'oil-burning' protests, eventual bankruptcy
GAC Fiat Chrysler recalled more than 140,000 Jeep Cherokee and Compass vehicles due to engine stall and cruise-control hazards, while 'oil-burning' problems triggered large-scale owner protests; sales plunged from 220,000 vehicles a year, and liabilities exceeded RMB 10 billion. Production halted in 2022, and bankruptcy was declared in 2025.
Brand decisions
2022
Stellantis proposes a 75 percent stakeM&ABackground
Stellantis sought greater control of the joint venture after becoming Fiat Chrysler's successor group.
Action taken
Stellantis announced a plan to increase its ownership from the equal joint-venture structure to a 75 percent majority position.
Aftermath
GAC said that no formal agreement had been signed. Stellantis later terminated the joint venture after the ownership discussions failed to progress.
2022
End local Jeep production and shift toward importsStrategyBackground
Stellantis announced that the proposed ownership change had not advanced and that the joint-venture structure would be ended.
Action taken
Stellantis planned to shut down local production operations and serve the Chinese market increasingly through imported Jeep vehicles.
Aftermath
GAC Fiat Chrysler later filed for bankruptcy, ending the manufacturing venture's operating history.
2013
Expand the partnership to Chrysler and JeepStrategyBackground
The original venture was centered on Fiat production, while the partners identified Jeep vehicles as an additional opportunity in China.
Action taken
The partners announced an expanded cooperation involving Chrysler and planned a Guangzhou assembly plant for Jeep products.
Aftermath
The company was renamed GAC Fiat Chrysler in 2015 and subsequently developed a portfolio dominated by locally assembled Jeep SUVs.
Recent events
GAC FCA announces transfer of Guangzhou factory production lines[4]
GAC FCA said its shareholders had decided to transfer production lines from its Guangzhou factory to its Changsha factory. The plan called for the main production-line equipment to be transferred during 2021 and the Guangzhou branch to be deregistered by March 2022.
GAC Fiat Chrysler appoints Zhu Hengli deputy general manager[5]
GAC Fiat Chrysler appointed Zhu Hengli as deputy general manager and a member of the company executive committee, effective May 1.
Sources5 sources
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