Fiat Chrysler Looking to Muscle Into Chinese EV Market

Ram Rebels and Power Wagons are a tough fit for China’s cramped, heavily taxed new vehicle market, but “new energy” vehicles (electric cars) are not. With this in mind, Fiat Chrysler is aiming to put EVs in the hands of Chinese consumers through a potential joint venture.

Clearly seeing an avenue for growth — and a way to compensate for falling Jeep sales while challenging industry heavyweights like Volkswagen, GM, and Ford — FCA has entered talks with Taiwanese electronics company Foxconn, the automaker announced Friday.

In a statement, FCA said it is in discussion “with Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd. (Foxconn) regarding the potential creation of an equal joint venture to develop and manufacture in China new generation battery electric vehicles and engage in the IoV (Internet of Vehicles) business.”

The potential pair-up, FCA said, would “bring together the capabilities of two established global leaders across the spectrum of automobile design, engineering and manufacturing and mobile software technology to focus on the growing battery electric vehicle market.”

The two parties are in the process of crafting a preliminary agreement.

Neither FCA nor its merger mate PSA Group are strangers to the Chinese market. FCA sells vehicles in the People’s Republic through its GAC Fiat Chrysler joint venture, while PSA offers vehicles through Dongfeng PSA. The country is seen as a ripe market for Jeep, but recent economic turmoil saw the off-road brand take a haircut; Jeep volume shrunk from over 200,000 vehicles in 2017 to just under 73,000 in 2019.

Thanks to excessive air pollution and a government with the ability to guide purchasing decisions with a heavy hand, China makes up roughly half of the world’s electric vehicle volume.

[Image: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles]