Dodge Caliber seen as pivotal to DCX's overseas growth

DaimlerChrysler appears bullish on the overseas fortunes of its new Dodge Caliber. The automaker expects to move in excess of 20,000 units outside of North America in 2007. That may not sound like a great deal in light of the fact that the econo-crossover will be launched into approximately 100 different countries, but doing so would make the Caliber a linchpin in DCX's program for aggressive growth abroad. Year-to-date, sales in western Europe for the brand have blossomed by 17 percent, and executives hope that the Dodge brand will account from 20-to-30 percent of overseas volume by 2009 (last year it accounted for just 5 percent).

DCX officials indicate that the brand may make a push into Asia in the future as well, though China is not part of the brand's immediate future.

[Source: Reuters via Boston Globe; DaimlerChrysler]