Chrysler in South Africa

08/14/96

Auburn Hills, Mich., -- Chrysler Corp said Thursday it has opened a regional sales office in Johannesburg, South Africa in preparation for launch in South Africa of rive right-hand drive vehicles by 1997.

Initial plans are to sell about 2,500 vehicles a year in South Africa but that number could grow to nearly 7,500 vehicles by the end of the decade, Chrysler said in a statement.

South Africa is the eighth market Chrysler has reentered this year.

"Establishing a sales office is the first step in Chrysler's bid for a share of the dynamic South African automobile market, which is expected to exceed 300,000 units annually in the next few years," said Jonathan Holcomb, general manager of Chrysler's Latin America, Middle East and Africa operations.

The Neon passenger sedan, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee sport-utility vehicles will be the first Chrysler products to go on sale in South Africa this summer. Right-hand-drive versions of the Jeep Wrangler and the Voyager minivans will be introduced in early 1997.

The vehicles will be sold through Chrysler's network of direct dealers in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth.

Chrysler said it expects to appoint three additional dealers in other major cities throughout the country before the end of the year.

Bill Maloney -- The Auto Channel