Chrysler VP talks about Chery and the Hornet

Late in 2006 Chrysler announced a deal with Chery Automotive to develop and manufacture small cars. Everyone hoped this meant that the Dodge Hornet which was shown at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show as a concept would be produced out of the deal. Unfortunately, the two companies have been shy about releasing details, apparently because they had yet to work those out. Chrysler Executive VP of product development Frank Klegon spoke to a group of Asian journalists and the subject of the Chery deal came up.

According to Klegon they are close to finalizing the deal, and it may start with "a Dodge-branded product that Chery manufactures and engineers, all the way through to cases where we could engineer and design a product that they manufacture, and things in the middle." The Hornet or something based on that design may or may not be part of that deal, including using the body design on a Chery developed chassis.

[Source: Chrysler]

The 2006 Dodge Hornet concept, which could be manufactured in China by Chery

The agreement with Chery was one of the topics that Asian journalists touched on during an interview with Frank Klegon, Chrysler Group Executive Vice President of Product Development, at the New York auto show.

Klegon said that deal with Chery, which is close to completion, could include "a Dodge-branded product that Chery manufactures and engineers, all the way through to cases where we could engineer and design a product that they manufacture, and things in the middle."

That could include an agreement to manufacture the Dodge Hornet, the muscular, wide-stance subcompact concept car that was first revealed at the 2006 Geneva auto show, Klegon said.

"That could be done on a Chery chassis, if you will, and produced in China," Klegon said.

In late February, the DaimlerChrysler Supervisory Board approved the framework of a limited partnership with Chery to develop small vehicles to be distributed under Chrysler Group brands, primarily in North America and Western Europe.