Currently reading: Fiat Chrysler denies Chinese Great Wall purchase approach

Fiat Chrysler has denied that it has been approached by Great Wall to be purchased; the Chinese brand has Jeep in its sights

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has denied that it has been approached by Great Wall Motors, with the Chinese brand looking to buy the Italian-American group. 

Chinese car firm Great Wall Motors earlier confirmed it is interested in buying at least part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles – with the SUV specialist understood to be particularly keen on acquiring Jeep.

Great Wall, which was founded in 1984, is China’s biggest producer of SUVs. A Great Wall spokesperson told the Reuters news agency that the firm had “an intention to acquire” in regard to Fiat Chrysler.

The firm is particularly keen to acquire the Jeep firm to aid in its plans to become one of the world’s largest SUV makers. It is unknown at this stage whether Great Wall is attempting to just buy Jeep, the whole Fiat Chrysler group, or a part shareholding in the Fiat Chrysler group. The Italian-American corporation includes Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Lancia, Maserati and Ram, as well as a number of automotive part supply companies.

While Ram is also primarily an SUV, truck and 4x4 firm, it is mainly focused on the North American market, while Jeep has a larger global footprint.

The denial by Fiat Chrysler follows Great Wall's confirmation that it is interested in the buyout. Ahead of Geely's acquisition of Proton and Lotus, speculation about the deal was dismissed. 

Any move by Great Wall would follow the path of Geely, which has acquired Volvo.

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James Attwood

James Attwood, digital editor
Title: Acting magazine editor

James is Autocar's acting magazine editor. Having served in that role since June 2023, he is in charge of the day-to-day running of the world's oldest car magazine, and regularly interviews some of the biggest names in the industry to secure news and features, such as his world exclusive look into production of Volkswagen currywurst. Really.

Before first joining Autocar in 2017, James spent more than a decade in motorsport journalist, working on Autosport, autosport.com, F1 Racing and Motorsport News, covering everything from club rallying to top-level international events. He also spent 18 months running Move Electric, Haymarket's e-mobility title, where he developed knowledge of the e-bike and e-scooter markets. 

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ianp55 21 August 2017

Great Wall Proposed Take Over Of Fiat Chrysler

Taking over FCA for Grear Wall is a much bigger proposition than Geely taking over Volvo,Volvo is a minnow compared to FCA perhaps the Chinese are only eying Jeep whose market segment is similar to Great Wall's. It might be a better proposition for Great Wall to improve it's own product line and bring the vehicles more up to European & North American standards that to attempt to swallow Fiat Chrysler

ianp55 21 August 2017

Great Wall Proposed Take Over Of Fiat Chrysler

Taking over FCA for Grear Wall is a much bigger proposition than Geely taking over Volvo,Volvo is a minnow compared to FCA perhaps the Chinese are only eying Jeep whose market segment is similar to Great Wall's. It might be a better proposition for Great Wall to improve it's own product line and bring the vehicles more up to European & North American standards that to attempt to swallow Fiat Chrysler

ianp55 21 August 2017

Great Wall Proposed Take Over Of Fiat Chrysler

Taking over FCA for Grear Wall is a much bigger proposition than Geely taking over Volvo,Volvo is a minnow compared to FCA perhaps the Chinese are only eying Jeep whose market segment is similar to Great Wall's. It might be a better proposition for Great Wall to improve it's own product line and bring the vehicles more up to European & North American standards that to attempt to swallow Fiat Chrysler