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Chrysler to build Jeeps in China
Detroit News
Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said the automaker plans to build some Jeeps in China for the local market — and later, in Russia.
“As part of our global expansion of the Jeep brand, there are some cars — that because of the price position in the market — can never be made in the U.S. and exported,” Marchionne told reporters on the sidelines of the North American International Auto Show. “We’re going to be announcing the first step in the globalization of Jeep (in China). There’s another one that’s going to come in Russia. These things are part of a natural process of expansion.”
Marchionne said he will keep “the pillar cars of the Jeep (brand) in the United States. Wrangler is one. The Grand Cherokee is another. These are things that need to be protected because they represent the best and the essence of Jeep. If you tell me I cannot make a Patriot somewhere else, I might as well go out of the market.”
Marchionne came under harsh criticism from Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who falsely suggested that Chrysler would shift production from Ohio to China of the Jeep brand. The Romney ad on the issue was branded the “lie of the year” by fact checker “Politifact.”
Marchionne rejected Romney’s assertion in a letter to employees last fall. “I set the record straight to our people,” he said. “We live in a world where we tell each other the truth and I think the stuff that was coming out was improperly phrased — it certainly was not reflective of the position of Chrysler.”
Much is being made around the rightosphere that Romney has been vindicated for his statement during the debates that “Jeep is shipping jobs overseas.”
Even with this announcement that isn’t the case. Jeep is expanding in China and Russia. These are Jeeps for sale in Russia and China to their markets. BUT, having said this, Romney WILL BE RIGHT. Romney made a forecast based on all the information he was hearing. Romney can’t crow yet that he was right. But once operations are humming in China, they will shut down the U.S. division and export Jeeps to us for our consumers.
To use a lefty phrase – you don’t have to be a weatherman to tell which way the wind is blowing.
illustr8r
January 15th, 2013
Well,I’d better buy my next Wrangler soon then. We traded our last one for a pick up. I miss having a Wrangler in the garage.
We traded a 2007. It had an oil consumption issue they couldn’t/wouldn’t fix. It burned quarts and quarts of oil-with no outside evidence-no oil on the garage floor etc…
Gotta get a 2006 or earlier, or a 2012…before the 2007 engine or get the new engine in the ’12 models. 2013+ I think will have the gubmint mandated black box on it.
You car guys probably know better…don’t tell me not to buy a Wrangler. LALALALAlalalala!!! I don’t hear you!
makes sense to me
January 15th, 2013
Where else would you build them?
RUSSIA?
Jimmy
January 15th, 2013
Remind me not to buy a Jeep.
JimBob
January 15th, 2013
I like my Jeep Grand Cherokee, it is the Patriot that will be built in China anyway.
Menderman
January 15th, 2013
That bouncy Jeep commercial won’t be nearly as good all pixelated.
Nutjob
January 16th, 2013
America can thank the USA’s father of the year Bill Hillbilly Clinton for this.
No matter how proud the Chines 8 year old is that built this is, I forever refuse to buy anything made by the the UAW that supports the demoncrats who’ve outsourced but blame the GOP, of which the taxpayers bailed out and who support the current DOTUS (DICKHEADLEADER OF THE UNITED STATES)
123321123321
January 16th, 2013
No better way to maximize profits than to build a product with communist SLAVE labor!!
the aardvark
January 16th, 2013
So when is the UAW going to build Trabants in China or Russia and start importing them to the U.S.? And bring back the YUGO as well, all a YUGO was a Yugoslavian FIAT. Good grief, they’ve lost whats left of their friggin minds and expect us to buy their made in commie land POS cars.
Corky
January 16th, 2013
So Romney was right? He also brought up Mali in one of the debates in later October.
mickey_moussaoui
January 16th, 2013
Maybe Government Motors can pay us the $60 billion they owe us now.
Obama’s business plans always work out so well.
Dr. Tar
January 16th, 2013
In your face UAW. At this rate we should be building all our Domestic manufacturer autos overseas by the end of the decade. I hope there is a UAW memeber there to turn the lights out at the last auto plant in Detroit in 7 years.