BBDC to continue making Chrysler 300C, Sebring

Shanghai, September 2 (Gasgoo.com) Beijing Benz-DaimlerChrysler (BBDC) will continue to make the Chrysler 300C and Sebring models for Chrysler LLC, said the China office of Chrysler Asia to auto.sina.com.cn recently, in response to the earlier media report that Chrsyler is dropping out of Daimler's joint venture in Beijing. 

Last week, German automaker Daimler AG was said to have reached an agreement with its former partner Chrysler LLC over BBDC, a 50-50 joint venture between DaimlerChrysler and Beijing Auto. The result might be Chrysler's quitting from the Beijing-based 30-year venture. Chrysler employees have begun quitting BBDC in succession, with only four technicians left for the supervision of the production of Chrysler 300C and Chrysler Sebring, reports said, citing people close to the venture.

Due to their poor sales, BBDC reduced the output of Chrysler 300C and Chrysler Sebring considerably, added the insider. Currently, it is said to be planning to suspend the production of Chrysler 300C as its inventory could well satisfy the demand in the Chinese market. In order to consume stockpiled auto parts and components, BBDC will not resume the production of the sedan model until later.

Chrysler Asia denied the saying, adding that the making and sales of both Chrysler 300C and Chrysler Sebring continue as usual. The U.S. automaker has been in talks with BBDC on how to provide better products and service to the domestic consumers and believed that both sedan models would seize a bigger share in the Chinese auto market in the near future.

Chrysler has reportedly negotiated with several Chinese automakers, including Chery Auto and Great Wall Motor, over the establishment of auto joint ventures in China. Chrysler LLC is likely to have its 300C and Sebring models manufactured in BBDC by means of technical cooperation.