Chery: future of JV with Chrysler possible

China's Chery Automobile doesn't exclude the possibility to establish a joint venture with Chrysler in the future, according to the vice president of Chery's sales arm. The 10-year-old Chinese carmaker has just signed a cooperative agreement with Chrysler early this month.

Qin Lihong added that the most significant as for Chery's cooperation with Chrysler is that---"the existing situation of world vehicles dominating the Chinese market is changing into Chinese cars driving the world market; the Chinese are grabbing the global market shares with its technology and models." Qin was interviewed by the local media on Friday, at the Fifth China Changchun International Automobile Fair.

Chery's technology and models will be the main force for the cooperation, said Qin. Initially Chery will input five models or more along with one or two from Chrysler, and the two sides are to set a R&D team to develop the subsequent products. Chery won’t exclude the possibility of setting up a joint venture with Chrysler after some period of cooperation, admitted Qin.

The largest independent automaker in China signed a deal with Chrysler Group on July 3rd. The two plan to launch a production venture that could finally export the Chinese-made cars to the United States, where no Chinese automaker has footprints yet. Chrysler will work together to develop, manufacture and distribute Chery-made small cars in North America, Europe and other main auto markets under the Chersler or Dodge slates.

At the fair, Chery released its third new model this year---Riich R2, the first mini-MPV in China. The 1.3L-volume-engine Riich R2 is confirmed to hit the market first, and later with more versions. Chery brought a full line-up to the Jilin-located fair, which is held in the northeastern Jilin Province.