Chang'an Suzuki said it will produce the 7th-generation Suzuki Alto small car (called the A-Star in India) at the joint venture's new plant in Chongqing city of southwest China in September, and the China-made new Alto will go on sale at the same time with its global launch by October.

As Suzuki's all-new upgraded model that measures 3,700mm in length, the 7th-gen Alto hatchback will be powered by the Suzuki-developed 1.0-litre aluminium petrol engine which meets Euro V emissions standards. It combines eye-catching style and easy urban mobility with high fuel efficiency and low CO2 emissions. The model can reach a top speed of up to 120km/h above.

An executive of Suzuki China has said that the new Alto will be made by Chang'an Suzuki by September this year as the joint venture's latest entry-level small car. The company has stopped production of the existing Alto model to pave the way for the latest generation, which is due to hit the Chinese road by October.

Suzuki Motor unveiled the Chinese version of its 7th-generation Alto at the 2009 Shanghai auto show last month. The locally-made Alto will be priced between 50,000 yuan (US$ 7,320) and 60,000 yuan when it reaches the Chinese market in the early autumn. Chang'an Suzuki aims to sell 150,000 new Alto small cars this year.

Chang'an Suzuki Automobile Co., a minicar joint venture between Chinese automaker Chang'an Auto and Japan's Suzuki Motor, is planning to build a second plant in Chongqing municipality.