Fiat to add shift and double production at Changsha plant in China

Expansion plans come as the JV gets ready to start full production of its Ottimo hatchback next year

Fiat and its Chinese joint-venture (JV) partner Guangzhou Auto (GAC) are planning to add a new shift and double daily production at their Changsha plant in southern China, reports the Wall Street Journal. Currently the plant can produce 140,000 vehicles a year and runs one eight-hour shift producing 32 cars an hour. John Burton, general manager of the GAC-Fiat JV, stated that a second shift at the plant would be added from April 2014. The JV will also hire up to 800 people to add to its current staff of 2,400.