Chrysler announced today that it has setup a “skunk works” to design mid-size global vehicles. Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli made the announcement today at the Automotive News World Congress, but failed to mention what vehicles are under development.
He did, however, reveal that the team will be in charge of every aspects of the vehicles. “We wanted to experiment with a new structure that pulled together every facet from design and marketing to engineering, including multiple dimensions within engineering including ride quality, interiors etc.,” Nardelli told Automotive News. ” We’re trying that on a platform that brings all of the functions together as a closely linked team in a dedicated facility.”
Nardelli also says that Chrysler is setting up design studios throughout the world — he referred to them as “centers of excellence” — with such locals as Mexico and China leading the list of candidates. ” Those would be logical places for us to look first to bring some design and innovation and talent into the organization,” said Nardelli.
The new locations could also expand to include production facilities.
