Chongqing ChangAn Suzuki is to produce the Fiat Sedici, a joint venture model developed in collaboration with Suzuki, in China to assist the Italian carmaker's efforts to rebuild its presence on the Chinese new car market.

Chongqing ChangAn Suzuki is to produce the Fiat Sedici, a joint venture model developed in collaboration with Suzuki, in China to assist the Italian carmaker's efforts to rebuild its presence on the Chinese new car market.

The Fiat Sedici is a small crossover and is the result of a joint venture between Fiat and Suzuki. It is currently built at the Magyar Suzuki plant at Esztergom in Hungary, with Fiat badging around one third of the production and Suzuki the remaining two thirds, which it dubs as the SX4. The Hungarian plant produces the two versions for the European markets; it is also manufactured by Suzuki at plants in Japan, India and Russia.

The Sedici, which features optional four-wheel-drive, was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and made its debut at the Bologna Motor Show in December 2005, before being the 'Official Car' of the XX Winter Olympics in Turin later on that same winter. Fitted with either a Suzuki-sourced 107PS, 1.6-litre petrol engine or Fiat's 120PS 1.9-litre JTD turbodiesel, the Sedici range was joined by a front-wheel-drive version earlier this year.

Chongqing ChangAn Suzuki Automobile Corp. was jointly set up by Chongqing ChangAn Automobile Corp., Suzuki Automobile Corp. of Japan and another Japanese company in May of 1993, and is now one of China's leading carmakers, with around 30,000 staff. The company is mainly engaged in the production and sale of small cars and spare parts for cars. It also has a joint venture with Ford.

Following the termination of its unsuccessful joint venture with Nanjing Auto last year, Fiat re-launched in China at the end of August through a network of around 30 dealers that were left over from the 100 outlets that had serviced Nanjing Fiat. However none are located in the major cities. Initially the narrow range sees the Fiat Grande Punto, Bravo and Linea being imported into China in assembled format, while the Italian firm tries to form new alliances. Using production from Chongqing ChangAn will allow Fiat to avoid the shipping costs and import duties that affect the importing of the Grande Punto, Bravo and Linea. The Fiat Group's new Chinese engine plant, coincidentally also located in Chongqing, which will have an annual capacity of 100,000 units once it is up to full capacity, will provide engines for the Chinese-built Sedici.