Chrysler stops making 300C, Sebring in China

Shanghai, January 13 (Gasgoo.com) After it exited the Daimler venture in Beijing and its partnership talks with Chery Auto failed, U.S. automaker Chrysler LLC will not produce any more of its 300C and Sebring sedans in China after their current inventories are sold out, said Beijing News today. The two Chrysler sedan models will then be imported to the Chinese market for sale.   

On Jan. 6, Tangshan Pangda Auto Sales Group in Hebei province bought out the 1,411 China-made Chrsyler 300C sedans and 1,863 China-made Chrysler Sebring sedans left in the inventories of Beijing Benz-DaimlerChrysler Automotive Co Ltd (BBDC). Chrysler pulled out of the joint venture in late 2008 and then it also stopped talks for partnership with Chery Auto. It seems impossible for any more Chrsyler cars to be made in China in the near future.

Last year, the Chrsyler 300C and Sebring sedans posted low sales in the Chinese market. In the first 11 months, the 300C only sold 3,480 units and in the first half of the year the Sebring sales just reached 5,590 units. After buying out the remaining 3,274 China-made 300C and Sebring sedans, Pangda Group will cut their retail prices and aims to sell them out by September this year.

Although the two Chrysler sedan models are unlikely to be produced any more in China in the coming few years, the technical permit for the China production and sale of Chrysler brand vehicles will not expire until 2012. Therefore, Chrysler vehicles will imported to the Chinese market for sale after the locally made ones are sold out.

In 2009, Chrysler will introduce to China three new models - Dodge Journey, Jeep Rubi-con and a model code-named MK, which is revamped from Jeep Compass. The company said it will adjust its global manufacturing plans in response to the financial crisis, but its Chinese business will not be affected.