Western Europe will be first to get small Dodge
It's been almost two months since we last talked about Dodge's rumored partnership with Chery. So we thought we'd bring you an update. It now looks like Western Europe is being tabbed as one of the key markets for this small Dodge when it launches. Chery Automobile of China is still the most likely partner on the project, according to Chrysler group CEO Tom LaSorda. LaSorda actually said the choices have been narrowed to two, with rumors that the company is also looking at PSA/Peugeot-Citroen or perhaps even Hyundai. He added that a decision should come by the end of the year at the latest.
After Western Europe the small car should head to Mexico and Canada, with U.S. sales a possibility after that. DaimlerChrysler had previously told us that it really needed a partner if it were going to succeed at the low-margin end of the lineup, where Chery can certainly help with one of its small car platforms. The most likely vehicle coming out of this partnership would be a production version of the Dodge Hornet concept, shown above at the recently held Beijing Motor Show in China. Dodge wants to be more competitive globally and Chery has the ability to produce the subcompacts and superminis Dodge would need to be a real player. Chery has also wanted to establish itself in the U.S. to help build some credibility for the company, so this might be good for both parties.
[Source: Automotive News Europe, sub req]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Kowell 10:22PM (11/27/2006)
Do we really want it?
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ocnj179 10:02PM (11/27/2006)
Really wouldn't be surprised if the US doesn't get this at all.
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Howard Kerr 10:36PM (11/27/2006)
I could never be any good in the car business. Chrysler HAD an alliance with Mitsubishi, but dumped it when Mitsu ran into a cash flow problem. Admittedly, it was the right thing to do, as Mitsubishi has been forced to bite the bullet and get it's own money instead of using DCX as a bank. But with Mitsubishi gone, so went Hyundai, as DCX had an alliance of sorts with Hyundai courtesy of Mitsu.
Hyundai has since gone on to bigger and better things WITHOUT the help of Mitsubishi and/or DCX. If I was Hyundai, I'd seriously question why I needed DCX to help me co-develop a new vehicle.
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AMcA 10:53PM (11/27/2006)
What I don't understand is why it is that a company which produces larger cars has such a difficult time producing smaller cars that they have to find somebody else to do it. Are smaller cars all that radically different?
Can anyone explain the difficulty?
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Misaniovent 10:45PM (11/27/2006)
Yeah, honestly, I think Mitsubishi probably would've come in handy right about now.
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J P 10:57PM (11/27/2006)
Even if the US doesn't know they want it, they want it. I know I do. Flood the market with smaller cars and someone will buy them.
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Bill Maher is an Idiot 11:27PM (11/27/2006)
At the time Mitsubishi Motors was in trouble, Daimler-Chrysler (at least, the Chrysler Group) was prospering with "innovative" vehicles like the 300, Magnum, Crossfire, and Charger. Mitsubishi is still not healthy, as its US operations remain in jeopardy. I don't think a Chery/Dodge partnership will do a lot to help improve Chrysler's image in quality in the EU or the US.
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susan 2:26AM (11/29/2006)
i've wanted to see this one for a while - i hope they keep the interior close to the concept; i like the space-saving ideas they have, along with the back seat that moves further back for adult seating when not having cargo.. only thing i would change is the width of the wheels [little wider please!]-- i'm sure i'm not the only US person that likes the look of this scion-competitor.
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Tim 1:14AM (11/29/2006)
dude that girl is hot as shit
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