Mercedes 1998 Annual Report Download - page 38

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CHRYSLER, PLYMOUTH, JEEP, DOGDE
34
The Plymouth Neon Style – a compact sedan sporting
amazing features. An “American way of drive” in
styling, performance and safety as well as comfort
and aerodynamic design.
BRANDS RECEIVE QUALITY HONORS. Four Chrysler and Dodge
vehicles topped the 1998 Total Quality Index ratings by Strate-
gic Vision, a California-based research firm. The Dodge Ram,
Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Durango and Chrysler
Sebring won in their respective categories.
In June, J.D. Power and Associates named the Chrysler Con-
corde and Cirrus as having the best quality in their categories
in the Initial Quality Rankings for 1998. The Dodge Caravan
finished second in the compact van category.
REDUCING COST BY SCORE. Efforts to improve vehicle quality
and value continue in part through a program that provides
suppliers with initiatives to generate new ideas and improve
their production processes. In August 1998, the Supplier Cost
Reduction Effort (SCORE) surpassed its stretch goal of € 1.7
billion in savings, topping its original goal for the 1998 model
year by more than € 400 million.
INVESTMENTS IN PRODUCTION LEAD THE WAY INTO THE NEXT
CENTURY. In May, the Bramalea (Ontario) assembly plant had
formal launch ceremonies to mark full production of the 1999
Chrysler 300M, LHS and Concorde and Dodge Intrepid.
Also in May, construction began on the new Mack Avenue II
Engine Plant in Detroit, Michigan. The 600,000-square-foot
facility represents another € 640 million investment by
the company in the city. The plant will build a new 3.7-liter V-6
engine for the next-generation Jeep Cherokee and the entire
Dodge truck line. The plant is expected to open by 2001 and
produce up to 300,000 engines annually.
Sales 1998
Total
Of which: Passenger Cars
Trucks
Minivans
SUV
United States
Canada
Mexico
Rest of the World
+ 7
+ 9
+ 8
0
+ 13
+ 10
- 2
+ 34
- 21
3,094
939
719
685
750
2,548
261
94
188
Units ('000) 98:97 (in %)
In June, the company started production of the Jeep Cherokee
at the Cordoba (Argentina) assembly plant. The vehicles will be
sold in the Mercosur markets of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay
and Uruguay.
Opening ceremonies were held in July for the Campo Largo
(Brazil) assembly plant, which will build gas- and diesel-
powered Dodge Dakota pickups in standard and club cab
versions. A new transmission plant in Kokomo, Indiana, began
production in July of new transmissions for the redesigned
1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
July also saw the groundbreaking ceremony for the new 1.1-
million-square-foot Toledo (Ohio) assembly plant. This facility
represents a € 500 million investment by the company in the
north side of the city. Production of Jeep sport-utility vehicles
will start at the end of 2000.
MOTORSPORTS VICTORIES CAP STRONG YEAR FOR VIPER
RACING. In auto racing, the Dodge Viper finished first and
second in the GT-2 class at the 24 Hours of LeMans endurance
race in France. It was the first time a company has won this
race with a production vehicle designed and manufactured in
the United States. Also, Viper Team ORECA won the Federation
Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) GT-2 Constructors’
Championship and the FIA GT-2 Drivers’ Championship for the
second consecutive year.