Chrysler Execs: Nine new models can be expected by 2010, Volt fighter included

A "product renaissance" consisting of up to nine new vehicles is to be expected at Chrysler in two years time, according to company executives, and included in the yet undetermined bunch is an electric powered car set to compete directly with the upcoming 2010 Chevrolet Volt.

During a tour of California last week, Chrysler president and vice chairman Jim Press once again outlined the automaker's focus on transitioning its product portfolio from minivans, trucks and SUVs to smaller, fuel-efficient cars. By 2010, the Chrysler executive believes the American economy will once again pick up steam and the nation's third largest automaker will be prepared to sell seven new gas-sipping models. 

Although the Chrysler team is optimistic, the reality is the automaker is facing a 24% drop in sales so far this year and massive production cuts that has led to the laying off of thousands of employees. Many industry insiders and credit rating firms predict the automaker has enough financial power to only put out five new vehicles at the most. Eric Merkle, an analyst for Crowe Chizek and Co. believes a new Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge midsize SUV (possibly named the Durango), Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, and a small Nissan-built car will come our way by 2010. 

"For our company, we're going to have a product renaissance in 2010 ... just as the market is coming back," Press stated last week. "We're not on the ropes. We're not worried."

Prior to Press's model outlook, leading Chrysler procurement officer John Campi stated the automaker will launch eight or nine all-new models in two years. The exact number of models fluctuates due to each executive's definition of what a new model truly is. 

At the press conference held in San Francisco, Press further mentioned the successful development of three new electric powered vehicles that have been shown to select dealerships nationwide in "post-prototype" form. Executives wanted to secretly show them off in order to prove its in-house technology department ENVI is indeed capable of producing a "pure electric, a plug-in electric and a range-extended vehicle." Press added they are currently "evaluating all three of those concepts."

Why we haven't seen, let alone heard, much of anything concerning the advanced concepts comes down to money, Press said. 

"We don't have enough money for a PR stunt. All we have is enough money to build a car that we can sell," Press stated. "It's a little different philosophy. We don't have enough money to talk about what we're going to sell in the next five years. But we will be able to show you soon what we're going to be selling in the next couple of years. We're going to be able to achieve some breakthroughs in adapting technology."