Tata Motors may sell Chrysler jeeps in India, Asian markets

Mumbai: Tata Motors is likely to sell Jeep Wrangler SUVs in India and other Asian markets as it extends an alliance with Chrysler, the third largest automaker in the US, media reports said.

Chrysler is already co-operating with Tata Motors on developing a battery-powered version of Tata's mini-truck Ace for distribution in the western markets.

Chrysler jeepChrysler, owned by buy-out firm Cerberus Capital since its sell-off by Daimler, is also reported to be planning to lease its US production capacity and share retail distribution with Fiat SpA.

Fiat and Tata already have a partnership under which Fiat will handle the financing of Tata's Jaguar and Land Rover brands in Europe while Tata will give Fiat the marketing rights of its Nano - the $2,500 small car.

Tata controls about 60 per cent of India's truck and bus market, and Chrysler expects a deal with Tata to open market for its Wrangler jeeps in India, more particularly, the Indian Army.

Chrysler has a joint venture in Cairo for producing an armoured variant of the Wrangler called the J8.
 
Chrysler saw its Wrangler sales drop four per cent in the US even after redesigning the SUV in 2007 while overall SUV sales plunged 15 per cent as Americans shifted toward smaller, more fuel-efficient passenger cars.