In May 2012, Mazda and Alfa Romeo — at the time a subsidiary of the Fiat Group, now Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) — announced a joint venture to manufacture a common rear drive platform with "both Mazda and (Alfa) to develop two differentiated, distinctly styled, iconic and brand specific, lightweight roadsters featuring rear wheel drive" with the two variants offering proprietary engines unique to each brand.

In December 2014, FCA's Sergio Marchionne determined Alfa Romeos would be manufactured only in Italy,
saying "some things belong to a place.
Alfa belongs to Italy," adding "I remain committed to that architecture, with our powertrain.
I’m not sure it will be with Alfa.
But it will be with one of our brands.”

At the time, Alfa Romeos were manufactured only in Italy, while Fiats were manufactured in Italy, but also globally — from Tychy, Poland, to Toluca, Mexico.

With their prior agreement in place — for FCA to market a roadster based on the MX-5 to be manufactured by Mazda at its Hiroshima factory — FCA conceived of marketing a Fiat badged variant in lieu of the Alfa Romeo variant.
In August 2016, FCA formally announced the Fiat 124 Spider based on the Mazda ND platform.

In December 2016, the Detroit News stated "in partnering with Mazda’s MX-5 Miata to resurrect the classic Fiat 124 Spider, Fiat Chrysler not only gained a halo sports car for its struggling Italian brand, but likely saved the most celebrated small sports car of the past 25 years (the MX-5)" — citing the markedly increased cost of developing a new car at the time and "the costliest wave of government regulation since the 1970s."

In January 2019, FCA announced that the Fiat 124 Spider was to be withdrawn from the market in the United Kingdom with immediate effect.
The Abarth 124 Spider continued to be sold, but this too was withdrawn from the UK market in April 2019.
In May 2012, Mazda and Alfa Romeo — at the time a subsidiary of the Fiat Group, now Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) — announced a joint venture to manufacture a common rear drive platform with "both Mazda and (Alfa) to develop two differentiated, distinctly styled, iconic and brand specific, lightweight roadsters featuring rear wheel drive" with the two variants offering proprietary engines unique to each brand.
In December 2014, FCA's Sergio Marchionne determined Alfa Romeos would be manufactured only in Italy,
saying "some things belong to a place. Alfa belongs to Italy," adding "I remain committed to that architecture, with our powertrain. I’m not sure it will be with Alfa. But it will be with one of our brands.”
At the time, Alfa Romeos were manufactured only in Italy, while Fiats were manufactured in Italy, but also globally — from Tychy, Poland, to Toluca, Mexico.
With their prior agreement in place — for FCA to market a roadster based on the MX-5 to be manufactured by Mazda at its Hiroshima factory — FCA conceived of marketing a Fiat badged variant in lieu of the Alfa Romeo variant. In August 2016, FCA formally announced the Fiat 124 Spider based on the Mazda ND platform.
In December 2016, the Detroit News stated "in partnering with Mazda’s MX-5 Miata to resurrect the classic Fiat 124 Spider, Fiat Chrysler not only gained a halo sports car for its struggling Italian brand, but likely saved the most celebrated small sports car of the past 25 years (the MX-5)" — citing the markedly increased cost of developing a new car at the time and "the costliest wave of government regulation since the 1970s."
In January 2019, FCA announced that the Fiat 124 Spider was to be withdrawn from the market in the United Kingdom with immediate effect. The Abarth 124 Spider continued to be sold, but this too was withdrawn from the UK market in April 2019.
Fiat 124 Spider (2016)