Chrysler Group has agreed to make Jeeps in China with partner Guangzhou Automobile, a key step toward its goal of building Jeep into a global brand.
Chrysler, majority-owned by Fiat, has not built Jeeps in China since before the Italian automaker took control in 2009.
It currently builds all Jeep SUV models in the United States, although one Jeep is scheduled to be produced in Italy in 2017.
Jeep sales rose 19 percent in 2017 to more than a record 700,000 vehicles.
Fiat-Chrysler is counting on building sales of brands Jeep, Alfa Romeo, Maserati and the Fiat 500 to offset losses in Europe.