Fiat to sell 500 mini cars made in Mexico in China

Sergio Marchionne, chief executive officer of Fiat, said that Fiat will export 500 mini cars made in Mexico to China in 2012.

Marchionne said at the Detroit Auto Show: "Our 500 production capacity in Mexico has already reached 120,000. We plan to sell half of this to North America and the other half to Brazil and China."

Laura Soave, the North American chief executive of the Fiat brand, said that the 500 will begin production this month at the Chrysler Group final assembly plant in Turoka, Mexico.

The reorganized 500 was launched in Europe in 2007 and is the second best-selling minicar in the region after Fiat Panda.

The 500 model will increase Fiat's sales in China, and the real growth will come after the joint venture between Fiat and GAC Group commences production in the second half of 2011.

The joint venture company's factory is located in central Changsha, with an initial annual production capacity of 140,000 cars and 220,000 engines.

The first model will be built on the platform of the Fiat Leading compact car.