GAC Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has rolled out the first locally produced sport-utility vehicle (SUV) Jeep Cherokee from its Changsha manufacturing plant in China.
Expected to be in full production in November, the Jeep Cherokee is set to begin deliveries before the end of 2015 and is positioned as the authentic SUV for city life.
GAC Group general manager Zeng Qinghong sai: "The roll out of the Chinese-produced Jeep Cherokee is a major step in the deepened cooperation between the GAC Group and the FCA Group.
"For GAC FCA, Jeep has achieved a rapid market share increase, meaning that the localization of Jeep Cherokee has shifted GAC FAC's simple trade model toward production, manufacturing, sales and after-sales on the entire value chain, and will ultimately move the formation of research and development, manufacturing and sales to a complete and comprehensive automobile supply chain model."
Initially, the Jeep Cherokee 2.4L version will be made available, followed by the 2.0L version.
According to the company, Jeep Cherokee retains the features and advantages of existing import models, and features, fuel economy and 4x4 capability.
GAC said that the company officially introduced the Jeep brand to the rapidly expanding Chinese market with the first locally produced Jeep Cherokee.
The Jeep brand's portfolio in China will comprise three new models by the end of 2016 including the locally produced Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Renegade.
FCA - Global and COO of the APAC region Jeep Brand and Ram Brand head Mike Manley said: "The Jeep brand was the first western automaker to produce vehicles in China more than 30 years ago.
"The Jeep Cherokee is our best-selling vehicle worldwide and now is being produced in China for China, to the world quality standards that Chinese consumers demand. Local production allows us to be closer to our customers and to improve our competitive position in the market place."
The GAC FCA Changsha plant adopts the exacting World Class Manufacturing (WCM) standards and is claimed to be the technologically advanced plant for FCA globally.
