MILAN (Thomson Financial) - Fiat SpA aims at developing a partnership with Chery Automobile Co Ltd to produce the Alfa Romeo brand in China, Finanza & Mercati reported quoting Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne.
'The idea is good and we will do it, but first we have to be sure the Chery (production) plant produces real Alfas and this requires a great commitment on our side both in terms of quality and engineering. We want to make sure the product is right, but this will not take much time,' the CEO added.
'The alliance with Chery started from engines, but we aim at developing a partnership for the Alfa brand. It is impossible that other brands be produced in the Nanjing structure,' Marchionne said, according to the daily.
Fiat and Nanjing Automobile Co are partners in the Nanjing Fiat Automobile Co Ltd venture, but according to recent press reports, Fiat intends giving up its shares, with Chery in talks to buy an undisclosed stake in the venture.
Marchionne said Fiat was creating alternatives to Nanjing 'but Chery is not the only Chinese company with which we have relations. Today, Fiat is in the position of choosing with whom it wants to develop cars in China, something that two years ago we could not do.'
The CEO also did not rule out the possibility of launching a new low-cost car with the Innocenti brand in Europe, saying it 'is one of the opportunities we are assessing'.
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