The first Guangzhou Jeep is born

The Guangzhou, China assembly plant began making retail Jeep Renegades today. Part of a joint venture dubbed GAC Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Co., Ltd. (GAC FCA), the Renegade follows production of the Jeep Cherokee built at the GAC FCA Changsha plant.

In 1979, Jeep was the first Western car to be built in post-revolutionary China, at a Beijing plant which was later taken by Mercedes.

The Guangzhou plant can make 160,000 vehicles a year, and shares many features with FCA’s Western plants, including its quality control and environmental management areas. Pre-sales of locally made Jeep Renegades begin this month at the Beijing Motor Show.

Local product is necessary partly because of high import taxes on foreign-made vehicles.