Now that Chery and Nanjing Fiat have admitted to holding talks with each other (it was a bit of a secret relationship for a while) Chery seem to have come out and said they are willing to spend a maximum of 15 billion RMB for upto 50% of the Fiat-Nanjing autos joint venture agreement, however, Chery has said ‘It aint worth no 15 billion RMB, fool’ or Chinese words to that effect.
Chinese press are also saying that there is a chance that the agreement will go through - Chery will help Nanjing Fiat with production, but also - produce Alfa Romeo vehicles here in China. Alfa Romeos were always imported into China, and usually with a large price tag which probably doesn’t help their sales at all in China. China Car Times estimates Alfa Sales to be floating around the low hundreds per year. The plan being shown by the Chinese press is to make Alfa’s in China, and export them back to Europe.
As usual, China Car Times will keep you updated on the Chery Nanjing dealings.
Great update on this scarce news…
I do hope that Chery can be a much needed boost to NAC’s limping joint venture.
But it won’t be easy getting Wuhu and Nanjing to cooperate, i.e. not always chummy neighboring towns, and provinces. Kinda like mending fences between the feuding Hatfields and McCoys.
It was obvious from the start that Nanjing had no real experience in making, marketing, and selling small hatchbacks. Nanjing are great at making commercial vehicles, i.e. light/medium trucks, coaches, army stuff etc.
Imagine if Fiat would have gone with one of the smaller auto companies in China that had a shared vision and experience in making small family cars, like Changhe, Chery, Geely etc Fiat would a top brand in China now. Still, Fiats product line in China does not seem as upto date as its European line, perhaps the introduction of the newer models will turn around its flagging sales.