Although Chrysler has been working with China’s Chery for some time now on a new small car for global sales, the partnership has really never gotten off the ground. But Chrysler doesn’t appear to be giving up on a Chinese alliance, and is reportedly in working with China’s Great Wall Motors.
According to China Car Times, Chrysler sent engineers to meet with Great Wall this past August. Since then, work has focused on a new A-segment car which would be built by Great Wall but sold globally under the Chrysler brand. Despite the project being only a few months old, the new model is expected to be completed by the end of the year, suggesting the two companies modified an existing model – possibly Great Wall’s Scion -esque Cool Bear — rather than starting from the ground up.
The new model would likely be sold in developing regions, but it’s also possible the Great Wall-badged Chrysler could make it to more mature markets like Europe and North America. However, that decision will probably be based more on the models ability to pass more stringent crash and emissions regulations.
If the car is indeed finished by the end of the year, it could be possible to see it on the market as soon as late 2009.
