Nanjing Fiat Automobile
Nanjing Fiat Automobile was a former Fiat–Nanjing Automobile joint venture that manufactured Fiat passenger cars for the Chinese market.
Last updated October 12, 2026
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Overview
Nanjing Fiat Automobile was a Chinese automobile manufacturing joint venture established by Fiat Auto S.p.A. and Nanjing Automobile Group in April 1999. The company was located in Nanjing's Jiangning District Economic and Technological Development Zone and was created to manufacture and sell Fiat vehicles in China. It operated as a localized production venture rather than as a globally independent automotive group. Production began in November 2001 with the Fiat Palio, a compact hatchback intended to provide Fiat with a volume model for the developing Chinese passenger-car market. The company broadened its range in September 2002 with the Fiat Siena, a sedan based on the same general small-car family. In June 2003, it added the Palio Weekend estate and the Doblò compact multipurpose vehicle. The Fiat Perla, introduced in July 2006, was the final model launched by Nanjing Fiat. At its operating peak, the venture manufactured approximately 30,000 to 35,000 vehicles annually for China. Its product strategy centered on adapting Fiat's international small-car and compact-vehicle portfolio to local production and distribution. Nanjing Fiat also participated in development work related to the Fiat Linea, collaborating with Tofaş in Turkey and Fiat do Brasil. The planned Linea launch did not take place after production was halted during 2006, and the collaboration was terminated. Fiat ended production at the Chinese facility in October 2006. Nanjing Fiat was subsequently replaced at the site by Roewe, the marque created by Nanjing Automobile following its acquisition of assets from the former British Rover Group. The venture therefore became an early example of the difficulties faced by foreign automakers attempting to build sustainable local manufacturing scale and product momentum in China's rapidly changing automotive market. Much of Nanjing Fiat's production tooling was later acquired by Zotye in 2008. Zotye used some of that equipment to produce the Zotye Mutiplan, based on the Fiat Multipla, from 2009 and the Zotye Z200, an updated development related to the Palio and Siena, from 2011. Fiat returned to Chinese joint-venture production through a separate partnership established with GAC in July 2012, but that later enterprise was distinct from Nanjing Fiat Automobile.
History
Nanjing Fiat Automobile was formed in April 1999 as a joint venture between Fiat Auto S.p.A. and Nanjing Automobile Group. Its purpose was to establish Fiat vehicle production in China and serve the domestic passenger-car market through local manufacturing. The company operated from the Jiangning District Economic and Technological Development Zone in Nanjing. Manufacturing started in November 2001 with the Fiat Palio. The Palio was followed by the Fiat Siena in September 2002, giving the venture both hatchback and sedan coverage in the small-car segment. In June 2003, Nanjing Fiat added the Palio Weekend estate and the Fiat Doblò compact multipurpose vehicle. These products reflected the venture's concentration on compact, relatively accessible vehicles rather than large luxury or commercial ranges. The Fiat Perla entered production in July 2006 and was the final model introduced by Nanjing Fiat. The company also worked on a Fiat Linea program with Tofaş A.Ş. and Fiat do Brasil. The Linea was scheduled for a November 2006 launch, but it was never introduced through Nanjing Fiat. According to the available account of the venture, Nanjing Automobile Group required car production to stop through the end of 2006, after which the Linea collaboration was formally ended. Fiat terminated production at the Chinese facility in October 2006. Nanjing Fiat was replaced at the site by Roewe, the Chinese successor marque associated with Nanjing Automobile's acquisition of assets from the former British Rover Group. The closure ended Fiat's original Nanjing manufacturing relationship and left the joint venture as a defunct chapter in Fiat's early Chinese localization strategy. The former venture's industrial assets retained a later legacy. In 2008, Zotye acquired much of Nanjing Fiat's tooling. Zotye subsequently built the Mutiplan, derived from the Fiat Multipla, beginning in 2009, and the Z200, an updated vehicle related to the Palio and Siena, beginning in 2011. Fiat later re-entered Chinese joint-venture production through a new partnership with GAC established in July 2012. That company was not a continuation of Nanjing Fiat Automobile.
- 2012
Fiat forms a new Chinese joint venture
[1]Fiat established a separate joint venture with GAC in July, distinct from Nanjing Fiat.
- 2008
Former tooling transferred to Zotye
[1]Zotye acquired much of Nanjing Fiat's tooling for later Fiat-derived vehicle programs.
- 2006
Fiat Perla becomes the final launch
[1]The Fiat Perla entered production in July and became the last model launched by Nanjing Fiat.
- 2006
Production ends
[1]Fiat ended production at the Nanjing facility in October, and the venture was subsequently replaced at the site by Roewe.
- 2003
Portfolio expanded with Palio Weekend and Doblò
[1]Production of the Fiat Palio Weekend and Fiat Doblò began in June.
- 2002
Fiat Siena production begins
[1]Nanjing Fiat added the Fiat Siena in September.
- 2001
Fiat Palio production begins
[1]The company commenced production in November with the Fiat Palio.
- 1999
Joint venture established
[1]Fiat Auto S.p.A. and Nanjing Automobile Group established Nanjing Fiat Automobile in April to manufacture Fiat vehicles in China.
Products and positioning
A localized Chinese manufacturing and sales venture for Fiat compact passenger cars and light multipurpose vehicles.
compact hatchback · 2001
Fiat Palio
The Fiat Palio was Nanjing Fiat's first locally produced vehicle and entered production in November 2001. It formed the foundation of the venture's compact-car range and was aimed at the Chinese mass-market passenger-vehicle segment.
small sedan · 2002
Fiat Siena
Introduced in September 2002, the Fiat Siena extended the Palio-related offering into the sedan market. It gave Nanjing Fiat a conventional three-box passenger car for Chinese buyers seeking a small family sedan.
estate car · 2003
Fiat Palio Weekend
The Palio Weekend joined the Nanjing Fiat lineup in June 2003. It adapted the Palio family into an estate-style vehicle with greater cargo flexibility, broadening the venture's compact range beyond hatchbacks and sedans.
compact multipurpose vehicle · 2003
Fiat Doblò
The Fiat Doblò entered Nanjing Fiat production in June 2003. Its compact multipurpose format added a more practical, utility-oriented model to a lineup otherwise centered on small passenger cars.
compact sedan · 2006
Fiat Perla
Launched in July 2006, the Fiat Perla was the final model introduced by Nanjing Fiat. Its arrival came shortly before production at the facility ended and therefore did not lead to a long-running product cycle.
compact sedan
Fiat Linea
Nanjing Fiat developed a planned Fiat Linea program in cooperation with Tofaş A.Ş. and Fiat do Brasil. The model was scheduled for launch in November 2006, but production was halted and the collaboration was terminated before the vehicle entered the Nanjing Fiat market.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2008
Transfer former production tooling to ZotyeM&ABackground
After Nanjing Fiat's production ended, much of its manufacturing tooling remained available for reuse.
Action taken
Zotye acquired much of the former Nanjing Fiat tooling.
Aftermath
Zotye later used the equipment for the Mutiplan and Z200 programs.
2006
Terminate Nanjing productionStrategyBackground
The planned Linea program was being developed while the joint venture faced a production stoppage during 2006.
Action taken
Fiat ended production at its Nanjing facility in October, and the Linea cooperation was not completed.
Aftermath
The site was subsequently used by Roewe, while Fiat later pursued a separate Chinese joint venture with GAC.
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