Fiat-Chrysler Aims to Hike Japan Sales 69%

Fiat SpA and its Chrysler Group affiliate hope to boost their combined sales in Japan to about 30,000 vehicles by 2016 from 17,800 last year.

Pontus Haggstrom, president of the company's Japan unit, tells reporters that the operation expects to hike volume there to 18,500 vehicles this year.

He says one contributor to that growth will be the planned expansion of Fiat-Chrysler distribution in the country to 175 dealerships by year-end from the current 144 outlets. The company sells vehicles under eight brands in Japan, but Alfa Romeo, Fiat and Jeep account for the bulk of its sales.

Haggstrom adds that the unit aims to win market share from rival Volkswagen AG.