Chrysler global car team part of product development realignment
Chrysler LLC said it is starting a new product development team devoted to global midsize cars as part of its effort to expand overseas sales.
By Agencies |
DETROIT: Chrysler LLC said it is starting a new product development team devoted to global midsize cars as part of its effort to expand overseas sales.
Tuesday's move comes as part of a realignment of Chrysler's product development department. Chrysler will now have five teams devoted to Jeep products, Dodge trucks, Chrysler cars and minivans, street racing, and global midsize cars. The company used to have only three teams: one for all vehicles on truck frames, one for rear-wheel-drive vehicles, and one for minivans and midsize and small cars.
Chrysler spokesman David Elshoff said the change will help the company understand what customers want.
``We're playing in the niches in which people shop,'' he said. Chrysler said it also plans to use more common components and expand its engineering centers in China, India, Eastern Europe and Mexico as part of the realignment.
Chrysler saw record sales outside North America in 2007, up 15 percent from the year before. But international sales represent only about 9 percent of the company's business, a tiny fraction compared to competitors like General Motors Corp., where well over half of sales come from overseas.
To expand those sales, Chrysler earlier this month signed an agreement with Nissan Motor Co. under which Nissan will supply small cars for Chrysler to sell in South America. Chrysler also is working with China's biggest independent car company, Chery Automobile Co., to jointly produce and export small cars to Western Europe and the United States.
Tuesday's move comes as part of a realignment of Chrysler's product development department. Chrysler will now have five teams devoted to Jeep products, Dodge trucks, Chrysler cars and minivans, street racing, and global midsize cars. The company used to have only three teams: one for all vehicles on truck frames, one for rear-wheel-drive vehicles, and one for minivans and midsize and small cars.
Chrysler spokesman David Elshoff said the change will help the company understand what customers want.
``We're playing in the niches in which people shop,'' he said. Chrysler said it also plans to use more common components and expand its engineering centers in China, India, Eastern Europe and Mexico as part of the realignment.
Chrysler saw record sales outside North America in 2007, up 15 percent from the year before. But international sales represent only about 9 percent of the company's business, a tiny fraction compared to competitors like General Motors Corp., where well over half of sales come from overseas.
To expand those sales, Chrysler earlier this month signed an agreement with Nissan Motor Co. under which Nissan will supply small cars for Chrysler to sell in South America. Chrysler also is working with China's biggest independent car company, Chery Automobile Co., to jointly produce and export small cars to Western Europe and the United States.
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