According to a recent article in Automotive News, it appears that Chery Motors will be building a production version of the Hornet that first appeared as a concept vehicle at the 2006 Geneva Show.
Amazing how a little thing like $4.00 per gallon gas can change your point-of-view
The Automotive News article goes on to state that in an interview with Financial Times Deutschland reporter Michael Gassmann, Thomas Hausch, Chrysler LLC’s vice president for international purchasing stated that “We are working intensely on the Hornet study.”
It’s well documented that the current price of gas has had a profound effect on all automakers and Chrysler, with a dearth of small cars, is especially vulnerable to this kind of market.
As recently as this past January, the Hornet made an appearance at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Back then, however, gas was selling for an average of $2.99 a gallon and the Hornet wasn’t even part of the glitzy Chrysler exhibit on the main floor. Instead, it was tucked away in a corner of the Cobo basement exhibition area – close to the Chinese manufacturers and part of an odd Michelin exhibit that included the Citroen C-Sportlounge Concept as well as the Nissan Effis Concept.
It looks like the Hornet is headed back upstairs.
Tags: automotive news, chery, Chrysler, chrysler hornet, citroen, michelin, Nissan
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