Mercedes 1999 Annual Report Download - page 42

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CHRYSLER GROUP
36
Cruiser will be on sale in Japan and Europe by year-end.
The withdrawal of the Plymouth brand at the close of the
2001 model year is part of a strategy for sharpening the
focus of the division’s brands and expanding the Chrysler
brand globally.
JEEP UNIT SALES CONTINUED TO GROW. Jeep sales reached
an all-time high in 1999, totaling 680,700 units, up 20%.
Leading the way was the Grand Cherokee, with a 41% in-
crease. Completely redesigned and launched in September
1999, the Grand Cherokee was named North American Truck
of the Year by a panel of independent auto journalists. More
than two million of them have been built since 1992.
Outstanding products, strong worldwide brand recognition
and an aggressive customer-relationship marketing effort
keep the Jeep brand prospering. For more than 40 years, Jeep
Jamborees have provided owners an opportunity to tackle
challenging off-road trails across North America. Celebrating
its sixth anniversary in 2000, Camp Jeep will be a three-day,
action-packed gathering of Jeep owners. In addition, Jeep 101
events provide Jeep owners and prospective owners an
opportunity to experience Jeep capability first-hand. Each
year, more than 50,000 customers participate in these
programs.
DODGE STANDS FOR PERFORMANCE. A sales increase
of 4% in 1999 to 1,810,900 vehicles validates the continuing
strength of the performance-oriented Dodge brand. The latest
addition is the Dodge Dakota Quad Cab, with six-passenger
seating, a V-8 engine and the largest pickup bed of any four-
door compact pickup. The popular Dakota has been named
J.D. Power & Associates’ most appealing compact pickup three
years in a row and was first in its class in Strategic Vision’s
1999 Total Quality Awards and J.D. Power’s Initial Quality
Study. Strong sales of the Ram pickup, Durango sport-utility
vehicle, Caravan minivan and Intrepid sedan
(Family Circle
magazine’s Family Car of the Year) reflect the depth of the
Dodge brand, while the Viper is the ultimate American
supercar.
MINIVAN SUCCESS DRIVEN BY CONTINOUS IMPROVEMENT.
Sixteen years after inventing the minivan, the company
celebrated the sale of its 8-millionth minivan worldwide in
1999. A new generation of Chrysler and Dodge minivans was
unveiled at the 2000 North American International Auto
Show in Detroit. The new minivans, which will be launched
on the market in fall 2000, offer sleeker styling, enhanced
power trains and many new industry-first features, including a
power-up and power-down liftgate, power dual sliding doors
and a variable central console. The division enjoys approxi-
mately 40% of the North American minivan market. Chrysler
minivans have received more than 130 awards.
INVESTING IN GROWTH. The division is investing in several
of its facilities to expand capacity and reduce product-
development time. Construction of a new $1.2 billion (€1.2
billion) Jeep assembly facility in Toledo, Ohio, is under way. The
St. Louis North plant in Missouri is undergoing expansion and
upgrade for assembly of the popular Dodge Ram Quad Cab.
Investment in expanding power train manufacturing opera-
tions includes a $624 (€620) million modernization of
the Kenosha (Wis.) engine plant and a $260 (€258) million
upgrade to its Trenton (Mich.) engine plant. The company is
also building a new $750 (€745) million V-6 engine plant in
Detroit, near the V-8 plant built in 1998.
Construction is also under way of a full-size aero/acoustics
wind tunnel at Auburn Hills, which will be used for evaluation
of clay models early in the development stage to shorten
design time. Ground was also broken in 1999 for a new Quality
Center in Auburn Hills, designed to enhance synergies with
engineers and suppliers. A new Corrosion Test Facility at the
Chelsea (Mich.) proving grounds will simulate 10 years of
corrosion conditions on body parts and components and
reduce a test schedule from 18 to 6 months.
AN EYE TO THE FUTURE. Each year, Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep
concept vehicles are produced to project the division’s vision
of its future vehicles. One example is the Chrysler Java, which
debuted at the 1999 Frankfurt International Auto Show.
Compact in length, the Java features big benefits for
The award-winning Dodge Dakota Quad Cab is
the newest entry into the brand’s truck lineup. It
offers room for six passengers, a powerful V-8
engine and the largest pickup bed of any four-
door compact pickup truck.