PRESS RELEASE
Chrysler Announces Parana, Brazil Plant Agreement Signing
14 March 1997
Chrysler Corporation Signs Agreement to Build Dakota Plant in Parana, Brazil
CURITIBA, Brazil, March 13 -- Robert J. Eaton, Chairman,
President and CEO of Chrysler Corporation , today signed an agreement
to build the Company's new assembly plant in the state of Parana in
southeastern Brazil. The agreement was signed at a ceremony with Jaime
Lerner, Governor of Parana state, at the Governor's Palace in the state
capital of Curitiba.
The assembly plant, part of a $315 million investment announced last
August, will produce gasoline and diesel-powered Dodge Dakota pick-up trucks
for sale in Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay) and other South
American markets.
"We're very pleased with our decision to locate in Parana and the
cooperation we've received from the state government," Eaton said. "Parana's
strategic geographic location in the Mercosur, excellent transportation
infrastructure and skilled workforce are ideally suited to our manufacturing
needs."
The Dakota plant will occupy a 250-acre site in Camp Largo, a suburb of
Curitiba. It will have total annual production capability of 40,000 units in
two shifts. Construction will start in the coming weeks after all necessary
government permits are obtained. Production is slated to begin in mid-1998
with an initial volume of 12,000 units in a single shift.
Chrysler is actively developing its manufacturing and sales activity in
the Mercosur region, where the automotive market is expected to surpass
2.5 million units by the year 2000. In addition to the Dakota plant in
Brazil, the Company will launch production of the Jeep(R) Grand Cherokee next
month at its new $165 million assembly plant in Csrdoba, Argentina. The Jeep
Cherokee will be added to that production in 1998.
Chrysler will also continue to expand its dealer network throughout the
Mercosur, expecting to reach more than 50 dealerships by the end of 1997.
Chrysler anticipates its total vehicle sales in Mercosur to grow to 30,000 in
1998 and nearly 50,000 units by 2001.
SOURCE Chrysler Corporation
CONTACT: Evelyn Mariperisena, 810-512-3404, or Shawn Williams, 810-512-2658,
both of Chrysler
Get in the Drivers Seat — Make Local Dealers Compete for your Business — Price Quotes from The Auto Channel

