On Tuesday, January 22 Chrysler LLC announced the formation of a product team to focus on mid-sized cars for the global market with regional product development centers slated to fuel an expansion of the company's sales overseas.

Both moves are part of a broader realignment of Chrysler's product development department that will see an increase from three to five teams concentrating on the Jeep, Dodge truck, Chrysler cars and minivans, street racing, and global mid-sized product lines. Additionally, one team each will be placed on vehicles with truck frames, vehicles with rear-wheel drive, and minivans / mid-sized / small cars.

In remarks delivered at the Automotive News World Congress, Chrysler Chairman and Chief Executive Bob Nardelli said, "It's a new innovative approach to put the best and the brightest we have in a room."

Likely locations for overseas product planning centers include Toluca, Mexico, where an existing Chrysler assembly plant is already in operation, and Bejing and Shanghai, China.

In 2007 Chrysler experienced record sales outside the North American market with an increase of 15 percent from 2006. Overall, however, international sales comprise only 9 percent of the company's business as compared to General Motors, where some 50% of sales can be attributed to foreign purchasers.

"It's very important not to be insular and [to] bring an outside perspective," said Nardelli. "This is not an outsourcing strategy. This is about a customer satisfaction strategy."