Chinese carmaker Zotye has presented at the 10th Beijing International Auto Exhibition this week the Fiat Multipla that it plans to put into production under licence from Fiat, dubbed domestically as the Zotye JNJ7160HS.

Chinese carmaker Zotye International has presented at the 10th Beijing International Auto Exhibition this week the Fiat Multipla that it plans to put into production under licence from Fiat, dubbed for domestic consumption as the Zotye JNJ7160HS.

The Zotye JNJ7160HS will remain almost unchanged from Fiat's own long-running Multipla version, which broke new ground when it arrived in the showrooms in 1998, boasting the ability to carry six passengers and their luggage through innovative packaging in a car that was less than 4 metres long.

On the surface the cars Zotye are showing in Beijing this week have few changes, just the large round Fiat badges on the radiator grille and tailgate, the Chinese firm substituting its own branding in the original recesses while the model's new designation is displayed on the tailgate along with the Zotye moniker in Chinese letters. The Zotye logo is also displayed in the centre of the Fiat-pattern wheel trims. It will be initially available with one engine option: a 100CV 1.6-litre unit.

The firm will assemble the currently-produced version of the Multipla, which was introduced in 2004, under licence from Fiat. This facelifted version had its looks strongly toned down from the somewhat controversial original model. Zotye promise that the car will be highly specified, and the Multipla's innovative seating of two rows with three seats has been retained.

Zotye International was established in January 14 2005; it is part of the Zotye Holding Group and it is a foreign trade company with independent status, and regarded as a special institution for the Zotye Holding Group to develop foreign trade, economic and technologic cooperation, and technologic introduction. Although currently one of China's smaller car makers Zotye assembled 30,839 units last year and its car production is currently running at over 1,000 units a week. Its main passenger car product at moment is the RX6400, a small SUV which is based on a previous-generation Daihatsu model and is powered by a Mitsubishi-sourced 1.6-litre engines. It has entered into an agreement with the Fiat Group that will see several more Fiat Group Automobiles' models being built under licence in its factories in the near future. Assembly of the Lancia Lybra saloon will commence in the summer.

Zotye International has ambitious plans and as well as the domestic market it has been striving for developing international market such as North Africa, Eastern Europe and Central America for several years and it has established sales and after-sale service networks in more than 10 countries, which market and works as a representatives for Zotye 2008 autos which is produced by the Group. It also markets transportation vehicles like motor cycles, automotive spare parts and relevant accessories, castings, forgings, and other mechanical and electrical products, at the same time, conducting technological transference, project gender, joint capital cooperative trade, compensate trade, certificate trade, autos and their spare parts bonded trade. Zotye International Automobile Trading Co., Ltd shoulders the great responsibility of developing international market.