Although the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger are produced in Michigan and the Dodge Nitro in Ohio, the company has closed five US plants since 2000 under its former chief executive Dieter Zetsche, who is now chairman of DaimlerChrysler. Last year it closed two factories in the US, resulting in a 16 per cent cut in its workforce. Zetsche has said he wants Chrysler to return to profit in 2008. UK managing Peter Lambert said Chrysler was looking to establish more joint ventures.

The carmaker has a World Series engine deal with Hyundai and Mitsubishi and a manufacturing partnership with Cherry in China, which Lambert said, could lead to the production of a B-segment car. Lambert denied Zetsche had said Daimler would sell Chrysler, but admitted nothing had been ruled out. According to Lambert “the jewel in the crown of the Chrysler Group is its international division”. He said the plan was to double volumes outside of the USA to 800,000 within four years.