Japan’s Isuzu is to establish a global sourcing centre in Chongqing and enlarge production capacity at its joint venture with Qingling Automobile to 120,000 units by 2012 from 40,000 at present, according to a municipal website.

Formed in 1985, Qingling Automobile Group specialises in the manufacture of light trucks. Isuzu has a 20 per cent stake in the joint venture.

Fixed-asset investment in Chongqing increased 30 per cent in the first four months of 2010 compared with the same period last year, according to Chongqing Bureau of Statistics. Industry and transportation were the largest contributors to the growth.