* Chrysler Group is 'Manufacturer of Show' at 2002 SEMA Trade Exhibition
* Vehicle Excitement Team Formed to Create 'Cool' New Products that
Appeal to Next Wave of Buyers
* Customized Chrysler, Jeep(R) and Dodge Vehicles Seen as New Business
Opportunity
LAS VEGAS, Nov. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Dieter Zetsche, President and
Chief Executive Officer of the Chrysler Group, said today that the company is
moving solidly forward by delivering industry-leading product design, creating
innovative new segments and focusing all efforts on first-rate quality.
Speaking at the opening Innovations Day event for the 2002 Specialty
Equipment Market Association's (SEMA) annual trade show, where Chrysler Group
is this year's "manufacturer of show," Dr. Zetsche formally announced the
creation of a Vehicle Excitement Team (VXT) to develop cars and trucks which
highlight Chrysler Group's vehicle personalization and customization
initiatives.
Chrysler Group will have more than 100 cars and trucks at this year's SEMA
show -- more than any other OEM -- including over 40 vehicles distributed by
the VXT to SEMA-member companies for customization and display.
Zetsche outlined Chrysler Group's overall strategic direction to
differentiate itself from the competition, and to deliver aspirational new
products from each of the brands.
"Designing and building cars and trucks that defy convention and challenge
the status quo is something we love doing, something we're good at and
something we're determined to do more and more of in the months and years to
come," Zetsche said.
The Chrysler Group CEO stated that there are three basic areas in which a
company can focus its talents and energies in order to differentiate itself
from other manufacturers. Those include delighting the customer, achieving
lean processes in its operations and delivering truly aspirational products
that people will line up to buy.
"In order to succeed, you have to be competitive in all three areas, and
lead in one," Zetsche noted. "We will definitely be competitive in
operational excellence and the customer experience, but the third area --
product excellence -- is where we're going to settle for nothing less than the
leadership position."
Zetsche also stressed that product quality is an integral part of the
company's strategy to achieve product excellence, and that the focus on
quality is at the very foundation of each of the Chrysler Group brands.
"We are dedicated to building cars and trucks with outstanding quality and
we are moving quickly to make this happen," he said, citing recent gains in
external quality measurements as well as the recent implementation of the
company's seven year/70,000 mile powertrain warranty. "Product quality is a
living, breathing part of today's Chrysler Group."
Chrysler Group to Strengthen Link to Aftermarket Community
Jim Schroer, Executive Vice President - Global Sales, Marketing and
Service, Chrysler Group, further detailed the company's product and
aftermarket focus to make Chrysler, Jeep(R) and Dodge vehicles the "coolest"
on the road.
"We've got a three-pronged approach for developing aftermarket and
performance enthusiast interest in our cars and trucks," said Schroer. "One
way is cool, limited-edition vehicles we do ourselves, like the three Dodge
SRT vehicles. The second way is through some great customizing companies that
do image vehicles for us for the shows. And the third way is supporting
performance enthusiasts with Mopar parts. We are committed to building on all
three."
"We're catching the next wave," said Schroer. "We're going after a new
generation of tuners and appealing to the compact performance market. Vehicle
personalization is hot, and our aim is to make Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep(R) out
to be the coolest vehicles on the road."
The idea, Schroer adds, is to do things that connect Chrysler, Jeep and
Dodge vehicles to a whole new generation of buyers now aged from 12 to 25
years.
"We want to be the three brands of American vehicles that the consumer
market tricks up the most," added Schroer. "We want to be the company that
connects to the next wave. Just as our work with SEMA members will propel our
emphasis on personalization, so too will our dealers.
"We've brought 4,000 dealers to Las Vegas to show them how this
aftermarket trend helps them, too," said Schroer. "By making our Chrysler,
Jeep and Dodge dealerships customization destinations -- the industry's speed
shops -- they can grow parts and service business. We want the dealers to
display customized cars as a way to signal enthusiasts that our dealerships
are the place to go for aftermarket parts, service and information they won't
find anyplace else."
SOURCE Chrysler Group
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CONTACT:
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Deneau, +1-248-512-2694, both of Chrysler Group
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