Mercedes 2006 Annual Report Download - page 105

Divisions |Chrysler Group |89
Minivans were the starring attraction for the Chrysler Group. The
newly redesigned Chrysler Town & County and Dodge Grand
Caravan featuring the Swivel ’n Go™ seating system have evolved
to become “family rooms on wheels”. Swivel ’n Go offers sec-
ond-row seats that swivel 180 degrees to face the third row with
a removable table that installs between the two rows, cov-
ered storage bins in the floor of the second row, third-row uncov-
ered storage and fold-in-the-floor third-row seating – features
demanded by today’s customer.
Also shown at NAIAS were the Chrysler Sebring convertible
withthree convertible top offerings, the all-new Dodge Avenger –
amid-size sedan that combines bold, aggressiveDodge styling
withinnovativeinterior features and better than 30 highway miles
per gallon (8 liters per 100 kilometers), as well as the high-
performance DodgeMagnum SRT-8 and the new Dodge Viper.
The Chrysler Group will launch all of these vehicles, as well
as the newDodge Ram 4500/5500 and the Dodge Sprinter, in
2007.
The Chrysler Nassau and the Jeep®Trailhawk concept vehicles
provided a dramatic glimpse of the future design direction of the
Chrysler Group.
Presentation of Recovery and Transformation Plan. In parallel
to its product offensive, the Chrysler Group is working intensively
on further boosting productivity and efficiency along the entire
value chain. In order to combine and intensify these measures, the
“Recovery and Transformation Plan” was developed and
presented in February 2007. This plan aims to return the Chrysler
Group to profitability by 2008 through a combination of measures
designed to increase revenues and reduce costs, while also taking
steps to change its business model for the longterm. The focus
of the Chrysler Group’s product portfolio is to shift to smaller, more
fuel-efficient vehicles in the long term. In parallel, the Chrysler
Group will pursue the goal of expanding sales in international mar-
kets. Furthermore, better use is to be made of alliances and part-
nerships around the world in order to utilize cost advantages and
additional growth potential.
2,655
681
534
259
467
714
2,087
223
131
214
-6
+6
-9
-13
-15
-2
-9
+6
+7
+22
Total
thereof: Passenger cars
Light trucks
Sports tourers
Minivans
SUVs
United States
Canada
Mexico
Other markets
1Factory shipments (including leased vehicles)
Unit sales 20061
1.000 06/05
units in %
The plan calls for a workforce reduction of 13,000 employees
by the year 2009, production capacity to be reduced by 400,000
vehicles per year, and a reduction in material costs of up to
€1.15billion. Over the next three years, total financial improve-
ments of €3.5 billion are to be implemented. At the same time,
the program will be supported by investment of €2.3 billion in new
engines, transmissions and axles, which will set the table for a
product offensive of more than 20 all-new and 13 refreshed vehi-
cles from 2007 to 2009. The implementation of the “Recovery
and Transformation Plan” will give rise to restructuring charges
totaling up to €1 billion in 2007.
With its distinctive design and SUV-like
shape, the Dodge Caliber was the first
car on the European market under the
Dodge brand.