| Dieter Zetsche, the DaimlerChrysler executive heading the restructuring effort at the troubled Chrysler unit, said he believed the market for the popular PT Cruiser could consistently run at more than 300,000 units annually. However, he admitted that adding a production line at the company’s Belvidere plant in Illinois — which has been suggested in Detroit auto circles — could be costly and complex because of the vehicle’s dimensions.
The PT Cruiser is one of the few “hot” products in the Chrysler’s portfolio, and the carmaker has been unable to keep up with demand since launching it last year. The car is currently assembled in Toluca, Mexico, although Chrysler is adding a small amount of production at its Graz facility in Austria this year.
Belvidere has been seen as a possible site for additional production because it builds the Neon, Chrysler’s small car offering in the US. Although Neon has been less successful than the PT Cruiser, they shares a common platform. |
