DaimlerChrysler has been looking for a partner to produce subcompact cars, like the Dodge Hornet concept the company unveiled in Geneva last year, and according to Chrysler Group CEO Tom LaSorda, a Chinese company may be the lucky recipient of the business. Speaking at an Automotive Press Association luncheon in Detroit on Monday, LaSorda said that the company is finishing up its research, and when asked if the partner would be Chinese, LaSorda said that Chinese automakers have not been ruled out.
D.C., which currently has no infrastructure in place to build and sell subcompacts, has said that it wants to make Dodge an international player -- a classification that all but requires the company to produce subcompacts. Earlier this year, LaSorda met with China's Chery Automobile Co. to discuss the topic further and if the partnership is given a green light, it will be the first such alliance of its kind.
[Source: Reuters]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dan @ Sep 26th 2006 11:09AM
Chrysler has been pushing to diversify beyond the U.S. market and executives have said a new small car would build on the success the company has had with its Caliber hatchback, which was launched earlier this year.
JON @ Sep 26th 2006 12:47PM
Cool little car.Really breaks the small car hatchback nerdy mold.Hope they can build it soon so the design doesn't get old.
supercars @ Sep 26th 2006 1:12PM
I'm sure soon we'll read that the Chrysler start the production in China.
rv65 @ Sep 26th 2006 2:32PM
Then Chery will clone it and sell it in China without their permission.
Bud the Stud @ Sep 26th 2006 3:59PM
Love the comment rv65.
It's not much in the way of looks, but it's a better direction than the big vehicles it's come up with.
Kurt B @ Sep 26th 2006 4:51PM
What about Magna?
They keep trying to build a car on their own.
Fabulo @ Sep 26th 2006 6:54PM
"D.C., which currently has no infrastructure in place to build and sell subcompacts"
Because of course, building subcompacts is so different than building mid-size cars. It's like, it's not even the same product. You would need all new factories, and all new workers. Not even thinking about training those workers. For all these years, we've been building cars and trucks, and then, suddenly, we need subcompacts, it's like, suddenly we're switching from building boats to building airplanes. No way we can accomodate that!
Also distributing is a problem. Imagine selling subcompacts sold at the same place we sell midsize and trucks! Unacceptable.
ebm14 @ Sep 26th 2006 8:12PM
Why not just build it on a SMART car platform? It is already part of the DCX family
and a secure eye can make sure things are being done the Dr. Z way!!!!!!
Robert Brodrecht @ Sep 26th 2006 8:39PM
I was thinking the Suzuki Swift would have been a good chassis. Oh, well.
Luxury Larry @ Sep 27th 2006 8:26PM
that car is SO fucking ugly!! who the hell is gonna buy that DOG!?
Jerry Wilson @ Sep 30th 2006 1:26PM
I was going to buy one until I read it may be made in China. Like most China built furniture, it will be cheaply.