Word: chryslers
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...year-old who looks like a miniature Mike Ditka. Randolph's school district has dwindled from nearly 1,000 students to fewer than 400. It's adopted a four-day week to save money and might switch to eight-man football. The town has lost its Ford, Chevy and Chrysler lots, all its implement dealers and lumber yards, its creamery, jewelry store and movie theater. "The big farmers took over, and it's killed small business," says Paul Loberg, who runs a welding shop off Main Street. "All they need downtown is coffee and beer. They can't buy that...
...Early results are encouraging. Chrysler's non-U.S. sales jumped 10% in the second quarter of this year, and it anticipates selling 250,000 cars overseas by the end of 2007. Currently, Western Europe accounts for about half of Chrysler's sales abroad. That percentage will drop to 35% to 40% as it ramps up efforts in Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. Analyst Jay Nagley of consultant Spyder Automotive wonders why Chrysler even bothers with Western Europe, a very developed, tough market. It should, he says, concentrate on emerging markets. "At least in those countries, everyone is starting...
...Chrysler's overseas push also includes making more models available globally. In the U.K., for example, 18 models will be on offer by next year, up from six in 2003. Nevertheless, Chrysler cars still reflect the company's domestic orientation. "They're built for American drivers and U.S. conditions," Anwyl says, which could limit their appeal in foreign markets. But Manley says Chrysler began addressing that problem in 2003, when it started taking international needs into account. It's tripling the number of cars available with right-hand drive, for instance, and quadrupling to 16 the number with a diesel...
...Dodge as a global brand puzzles John Monks, a Detroit-based analyst with Autopolis, a consulting group. "Jeep is its only brand with real appeal." Manley admits that "a lot of people [overseas] don't know Dodge," which makes it harder to market. But Dodge is the only Chrysler brand producing small cars, which are popular in Asia and Latin America. Certainly the Caliber is so far doing well: its first-year overseas sales overseas should...
...Chrysler's global plans also include licensing production to local carmakers in some developing countries, which it says is the fastest way to introduce products in overseas markets. China's South East Motors began producing Grand Voyager minivans in August under a licensing arrangement. And Manley says licensed production of Chrysler cars in Russia could begin "within the year." Jumping into emerging markets and using joint ventures are "very attractive propositions," Anwyl says, but "these things take time." But as foreign rivals increasingly put the squeeze on Chrysler on its home turf, it can't afford to take a leisurely...