The first vehicles have rolled off the production line at the Fujian Daimler Automotive (FJDA) joint adventure in Fuzhou, South East China.

The venture, between Daimler, state-owned Fujian Motors Group and Taiwan-based China Motors Corp., is assembling Mercedes Viano MPVs and Vito light commercial vehicles.

The first Viano has been donated to the earthquake-hit Yushu County in northwest China’s Qinghai Province, said Lian Xiaoqiang, board chairman of the FJDA.

The new plant will produce 40,000 vehicles a year and more than 40% of the parts will be sourced from Chinese suppliers.