Chrysler May Seek New Chinese Partner for Jeep

Chrysler Group LLC says it is thinking about teaming up its Jeep SUV brand with a Chinese automaker other than parent Fiat SpA's partner Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. (GAC).

Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne tells reporters that the company has been approached by several potential partners but is not currently in talks with any of them. Marchionne adds that Jeep could work with two Chinese carmakers.

In January, Fiat and Chrysler reached a framework agreement with GAC to build Jeeps at the Fiat-GAC joint venture in Changsha, China, for the local market. The deal is awaiting the approval of regional and national authorities in China.

Marchionne said at that time that Jeep aims for initial production of 100,000 SUVs per year, starting as early as mid-2014.

Chrysler assembled Jeeps in China at its Beijing Jeep joint venture from 1985 to 2009. Chrysler currently sells only imported SUVs, whose prices are boosted by big tariffs. The company sold only 46,000 Jeeps in China last year.