Chrysler And Jeep® Celebrate 10 Years In The UK
Published: 5th January 2003
Such was the success of the introduction of Neon – which uniquely at the time offered an automatic transmission and other comfort extras at no extra cost – that the entire first year’s allocation of vehicles was sold out in just three weeks and a waiting list was in place for several months later.
Voyager quickly became the second best selling MPV in the UK which subsequently became one of the best-selling markets in Europe for the Corporation’s popular people carrier. Since 1996, 55,475 Chrysler-badged vehicles have been registered in this country.
Jeep enjoyed even greater success as the UK quickly established itself as the top selling export market for the company, a position it retains to this day, thanks to accumulated sales over the past 10 years of 71,370.
In 1999, following the successful merger of Chrysler Corporation and Daimler-Benz to form DaimlerChrysler UK, distribution operations in this country transferred from the headquarters of Chrysler Jeep Imports UK in Dover, Kent, to DaimlerChrysler’s newly-established UK offices in Milton Keynes.
There, sharing facilities with Mercedes and smart the company used all the advantages of the merger between Chrysler and Daimler-Benz to forge ahead again, with even greater sales and improved aftersales and service the result.
Simon Elliott, Managing Director of Chrysler and Jeep in the UK said: "Nobody ever doubted the potential of the Chrysler and Jeep brands in the UK, but few people predicted that the franchise would grow to become such a successful and integral part of the UK motor industry in such a relatively short space of time.
"The continued success of our business, evident by another good year of sales in 2002, is testament to a great range of distinctive and capable vehicles and our team of committed, professional dealers and talented, dedicated staff."
The company now offers an extensive UK line-up of vehicles, which includes the Chrysler-badged Neon, PT Cruiser and Voyager and the Jeep brand’s Wrangler, Cherokee and Grand Cherokee, all of which are available in many different equipment and engine guises.
Current top-selling Jeep model is the Grand Cherokee, more
than 4,250 versions of which were sold last year, while the
Voyager heads Chrysler brand sales with more than 4,550 sold
last year. Chrysler and Jeep vehicles are sold through a network
which has grown to 92 dealers.
