THE first results of last year's General Motors alliance with Fiat will come in 2002/03 with the Italian manufacturer's diesel engine technology being used in GM vehicles. Fiat will produce models powered by its partner's petrol engines, according to GM Europe president Mike Burns.

In March last year GM took a 20% stake in Fiat with an option to buy the remaining 80% which many analysts were expecting to be exercised by the American car maker.