Chrysler group expects strong European growth
US automaker sets international sales goal of 400,000 units by 2012
Jason Stein | Automotive News Europe / March 5, 2007 - 1:00 am MUNICH -- The Chrysler group is in financial trouble in the US, but its international business -- led by increased European unit sales -- is a bright spot.
Thomas Hausch, Chrysler's executive director of international sales and marketing, told Automotive News Europe last month that the Chrysler group set a record for profitability in 2006 in international markets.
Hausch declined to provide specifics, but said Chrysler's recent success has prompted the US automaker to readjust its short-term unit-sales goals.
"Our profitability has led to the decision to continue our acceleration [in Europe]," Hausch said.
The Chrysler group includes the Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep brands.
In August, Hausch said Chrysler wanted to double its market share in Europe to 1.4 percent by 2009. That would represent close to 200,000 unit sales.
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Ahead of schedule
Hausch said he is ahead of schedule in Europe and expects Chrysler group to expand its international sales to 400,000 units by 2012 from 206,925 this year.
"We are above our target and our latest announcement to expand sales internationally will help me achieve that goal," he said. "We could have sold more if we kept our production up to where our dealers wanted it."
In Europe last year, Chrysler sold 107,575 units, up from 92,951 units in 2005, according to UK-based market researcher JATO Dynamics.
Hausch said he expects most of Chrysler's European short-term growth to come from Russia and eastern Europe.
On the product side, Hausch said the carmaker may expand in Europe in two segments that it has not yet tapped: minicar and small car.
The Chrysler group also will push to increase its number of sales points in Europe each year for the next few years. Last year, Chrysler expanded its sales network by 50 outlets to about 1,000 and Hausch expects "single-digit" percentage growth every year for the next few years in core cities in Germany, France and the UK.
"We will continue to grow in selected markets," Hausch said. "We have quite a lot of demand for dealerships in Europe."
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