After the first generation Ibiza was replaced, the technology and production line were bought by a joint venture between Nanjing Yuejin and the Malaysian Lion Group in 1997.

Production did not begin, however, until Fiat took over the Lion Group's share in Jiangsu Nanya Auto, as the company was called.

[3] In 1999 the SEAT design was modified for the Chinese market and then rebranded as the Zhongguo Nanjing NJ6400, later as the modernized and fuel injected GHR Encore.

With Ningbo Bird joining the original partners in a 50/50 relationship, the new design was renamed the Soyat.

Production numbers have dropped considerably (from 4,261 in 2004[3] to 705 in the first eleven months of 2007,[4]) as Nanjing's focus switched to more modern and competitive Fiats and then MGs.