Chrysler Launches Venezuelan Neon

04/25/96

This week Chrysler Motors de Venezuela began producing the Chrysler Neon at its Carabobo Assembly Plant in Valencia, which is near Caracas. The plant will produce the first Neons built outside of North America, and the car will be Chrysler's first attempt to break into Venezuela's competitive compact car market.

The Carabobo Neon will be the beneficiary of $50 million invested in the plant to upgrade it and improve efficiency. Upgrades included a new electrostatic-coat paint system; expanded paint, assembly and body shop areas; and a state-of-the-art waste water treatment system to meet local environmental regulations.

Chrysler will sell two versions of the Neon sedan in Venezuela, a fully-equipped LE and base SE version. The car will hit Venezuelan dealer lots in early June. The corporation has set an initial production goal of 2,000 cars in the first 6 months. Since Chrysler introduced the Neon two and a half years ago in North America, plants in Belvidere, Illinois, and Toluca, Mexico have cranked out more than 500,000 of them.

Chrysler Motors de Venezuela, S.A. was established in 1957, and the Carabobo Assembly Plant was built in 1968. The plant currently makes about 20,000 Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee sport utility vehicles a year.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel