DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler Group seems to be in no hurry to select a development partner for the new subcompact car the company wants to add to its lineup. According to a Reuters report, Chrysler Chief Operating Officer Eric Ridenour said Thursday that the automaker would name a partner "by the end of the year."Ridenour suggested that the company is working through a short list of several "semi-finalists" at this point.
Chrysler has been looking for a partner to help share the cost of designing and developing the new small car, which will be marketed globally, not just in the U.S. Volkswagen has been widely rumored as a likely partner, but by the sound of Thursday's announcement it's far from a done deal. The new model will likely take styling cues from the Hornet concept that debuted in Geneva this spring (shown at right).
Chrysler would do well to get a move on - 2005 U.S. subcompact segment sales are expected to double by 2007.
[Source: Reuters]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
GOKARTN @ Jun 9th 2006 9:19AM
You would think since DCX owns Smart, and are looking for a way to make it stay afloat and work in the US, that it would make sense to consoldate their resources, rather than looking toward a DCX rival for help.
I have heard from people who work for chrysler that their German Mercedes cousins are difficult to work with, that must be why Chrylser looks elsewhere.
Philbert @ Jun 9th 2006 9:37AM
"According to a Reuters report, Chrysler Chief Operating Officer Eric Ridenour said Thursday that the automaker would name a partner "by the end of the year."
That car should be hitting the streets by the end of the year if they want to keep up with the new micro Honda and Toyota. If they won't even know who their partner will be until the end of the year this thing will takes years to see the light of day.
Greg A. @ Jun 9th 2006 10:17AM
#1: It could also be that this car is intended to be bigger than a Smart.
JWhite @ Jun 9th 2006 10:41AM
The Smart platform is likely too expensive to use for the target audience of the "Hornet." That's probably why they are looking elsewhere.
Mal Fuller @ Jun 9th 2006 10:44AM
Thank God they're having second thoughts about Volkswagen!
Glenn A. @ Jun 9th 2006 2:32PM
So, with DCX just (re)-yanking the rug from under Mitsubishi, by closing out their SMART ForFour production (the car being about the size of this prototype thingie), why - I ask you - would any other car company want to get involved with DCX after the shabby way DCX a) didn't support Mitsubishi when support was needed b) unilaterally pulled out of the Dutch factory shared with Mitsubishi (building the Colt, and no longer building the SMART ForFour) and c) the even shabbier way DCX treated its one-time part-owned partner, Hyundai, in China - by sneaking behind their back and stealing a Chinese auto partner? d) the shameful way the Chrysler people treated AMC and lied to AMC employees before the take-over in 1987 (and of course, "turnabout being fair play" Chrysler got it from Daimler-Benz in the 1999 take-over - whoops (non) "merger of equals").
Wow, if I were a businessman in the automotive industry, I would RUN AWAY from any collaboration with DCX, thanks.
Hey, if this thing is going to be a Dodge Hornet, will the sport version be the "Super Bee"?
How about a bubble-shaped two door variant with a longer door on the right, and call it the Dodge PACER?
Since DCX already cribbed the AMC Marlin look for the Chrysler Crossfire, why not bring back an all wheel drive Dodge Hornet and call it the Dodge EAGLE.
OK I'm done being sarcastic about DCX not being able to come up with any novel ideas on their own. Someone else's turn.
bob @ Jun 9th 2006 5:44PM
More proof that the big three cant build a decent small car, they need someone else to do it for them. They should just build it themselves so the rest of the industry has something to laugh at!
whofan @ Jun 9th 2006 9:09PM
Just build the damn thing and quit getting into bed with rivals.
Good company`s should stand on thier own two feet in my opinion.