A Global Thought Leader Breakfast
On Friday February 29, Levin partnered with Reuters to present the latest in our ongoing series of Global Thought Leader breakfasts. Garrick Utley interviewed Jim Press, Chrysler Vice Chairman (and President and former CEO of Toyota USA) before engaging the audience in an opened discussion.
Press discussed how Chrysler is "right sizing" itself, to survive and grow in the global automarket. He said that Chrysler is re-defining itself as the great American dream machine. "Global doesn't mean huge. Global means well-focused, high value, high quality, well targeted products in many markets." "...cars could be assembled anywhere, doesn't matter...borders don't matter, borders are gone" he replied after being asked about where the new models will be assembled.
He said that when he was at Toyota, the cars the company sold in the US were nothing like those sold in Japan. So when Chrysler looks at the global marketplace they know they have to understand their customers in each country, which may mean designing and manufacturing them in the countries or regions where they're sold..
He added that by becoming part of Cerberus Capital Management, Chrysler has had more freedom to make the structural changes the company needs than if it was still a public company.
Showing his sense of humor, when he was asked if Chrysler would ever compete with India's Tata Motors which is introducing a $2500 car, Press said Chrysler is selling them now...only they are called "used cars."
