Starting next year, Chrysler will have its own version of the Nissan Versa subcompact B-segment car running around select regions of South America, thanks to a new partnership between the two automakers announced on January 11.
Nissan will use excess capacity at its Mexican assembly plant to make additional cars for Chrysler. They will be sold as 2010 models in a number of body styles. And while we expect them to carry Dodge branding, Chrysler LLC president Tom LaSorda won’t confirm which badge they will carry, how much differentiation there will be from the Versa, or what kind of volume is targeted (although some reports peg it at 20,000 a year). And if Chrysler has chosen a name, LaSorda isn’t spilling the beans yet.
Chrysler gains immediate access to new segments in which it does not compete, as its deal with Chinese automaker Chery will not yield B-cars for North America for three or four years, despite efforts to accelerate the timeline with Chrysler resources allocated to the project.
Nissan will use excess capacity at its Mexican assembly plant to make additional cars for Chrysler. They will be sold as 2010 models in a number of body styles. And while we expect them to carry Dodge branding, Chrysler LLC president Tom LaSorda won’t confirm which badge they will carry, how much differentiation there will be from the Versa, or what kind of volume is targeted (although some reports peg it at 20,000 a year). And if Chrysler has chosen a name, LaSorda isn’t spilling the beans yet.
Chrysler gains immediate access to new segments in which it does not compete, as its deal with Chinese automaker Chery will not yield B-cars for North America for three or four years, despite efforts to accelerate the timeline with Chrysler resources allocated to the project.
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