Chrysler to Build Neon Inspection Facility in Japan

02/07/96

Nikkei Net reported that Chrysler Corp. will lease part of a Shin Caterpillar Mitsubishi Ltd. plant in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, in order to inspect their Neon subcompacts before delivery. The imports will arrive at the plant in March, and Chrysler expects to inspect them at a rate of 30,000 cars a year.

Chrysler will initially invest 1 billion yen in the project and lease 22,000 sq. meters to build a test course. By leasing instead of buying, Chrysler hopes to reduce initial per vehicle investment costs to one eighth of it's European rivals.

Chrysler Japan already has pre-delivery inspection facilities in Yokohama and Tochigi Prefecture. They plan to transfer the Yokohama operations to the new plant.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel