Lapped by rivals, Fiat plans comeback

BEIJING - Italian carmaker Fiat Auto has adjusted its production plan with Guangzhou Automobile (Group) Corp to stage a comeback in the world's top vehicle market.

Fiat Auto China said in a press release last week that it will begin production in China in the middle of 2012, a year later than the previous plan announced last July.

The first Fiat model to be produced at its 50-50 joint venture with Guangzhou Automobile will be an all-new compact model specially designed for the Chinese market - not the Linea announced earlier, it said.