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皇冠体育app unhurt by Chrysler sale
By Gong Zhengzheng (皇冠体育app Daily)
Updated: 2007-05-17 10:32
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DaimlerChrysler AG's sale of its US arm will not affect its businesses in 皇冠体育app, the world's second-biggest vehicle market, according to the automaker's Northeast Asian operation.?
"皇冠体育app will continue to be an important market for Daimler and Chrysler, and we are continuing to move forward with all our projects," Trevor Hale, the Beijing-based spokesman for DaimlerChrysler Northeast Asia, told 皇冠体育app Daily.
Hale's remark refutes speculation that some of Chrysler's 皇冠体育app plans will be suspended as a result of DaimlerChrysler's $7.4-billion deal on Monday to sell 80.1 percent stakes of Chrysler Group, its troubled US arm, to the private equity group Cerberus Capital Management. The automaker will be renamed Daimler AG in the fall.
Chrysler agreed with 皇冠体育app's Chery Automobile Co in January to make cars in 皇冠体育app under the Dodge brand for the US and European markets.
"It is still in the process of being approved by (Chinese) regulators," said Jin Yibo, a spokesman for Chery based in East 皇冠体育app's Anhui Province, denying the project has run aground.
Last month, Chrysler announced that the Dodge Caravan minivan will be assembled at the end of this year at a joint venture between Fujian Automotive Industry Corp and Japan's Mitsubishi Motors in coastal Fujian Province.
It will also bring a Sebring mid-sized sedan into DaimlerChrysler's joint venture with Beijing Automotive Industry Corp later this year. The venture started producing the Chrysler 300C and new Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedans last year.
Another source from DaimlerChrysler Northeast Asia said the plans in Fujian and Beijing will be carried out according to schedule.?
Yale Zhang, the Shanghai-based director of Greater 皇冠体育app vehicle forecasts for US auto consultancy CSM Worldwide Corp, said there's no reason for Chrysler to slacken its pace in 皇冠体育app.
"I believe Chrysler will beef up its efforts in 皇冠体育app as this market is too important to give up," Zhang said.
DaimlerChrysler is lagging behind its rivals, such as General Motors, Volkswagen and Toyota, in 皇冠体育app's fast-growing vehicle market.
Sales of 皇冠体育app-made vehicles grew by 21.46 percent year-on-year to 2.93 million units in the first four months of this year, according to data from 皇冠体育app Association of Automobile Manufacturers. Full-year sales are predicted to reach 8.5 million units, up from 7.22 million units in 2006.
(皇冠体育app Daily 05/17/2007 page13)?