Lincoln Motor Co announced it will be building a new SUV with its joint venture partner Changan Automobile in Liangjiang New Area of Southwest China’s city of Chongqing on March 13.

The company will start producing cars in Liangjiang New Area by late 2019 and this new model of SUV will be sold exclusively in the Chinese market.

The global auto industry has been betting on China’s west in recent years, especially Chongqing, the only municipality in southwestern China. As the largest automobile manufacturing base in China, Liangjiang New Area is continuously upgrading itself to attract international automakers to settle down and invest in the zone.

Tang Zongwei, deputy director of Liangjiang New Area Administrative Committee and a deputy to the 12th National People’s Congress, noted that in order to boost the sustainable development of the auto industry, Liangjiang endeavors to boost the upgrading and transformation of the industry to enhance competitiveness.

SUVs are now the fastest-growing car segment in the country. Statistics from the China Passenger Car Association show that 1.55 million SUVs were sold in China in the first two months of 2017, surging 20.1 percent year-on-year.

Lincoln is to build a new SUV with its joint venture partner Changan Automobile in the Liangjiang New Area of Southwest China’s city of Chongqing. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Edited by Tyler Terrance Oneil