Production
The plant was officially inaugurated on May 3, 1960, and the first D-100 pick ups and D-400 trucks began to be manufactured under the Dodge, Fargo,[7] and DeSoto brands. In April 1961 the factory began production of 125 HP engines for trucks and then, propulsion transmission.[3] Trucks branded Fargo and DeSoto lasted until 1967, leaving only the 'Dodge' name since then.[8]
In December 1961 the first automobile by Chrysler Argentina S.A., Valiant V200, began to be produced although it was not on sale until 1962. This compact car model was intended to compete with the Ford Falcon and Chevrolet 400. Transmissions and engines were imported during that first year of production. In 1963, the Slant Six engine and the 3-speed gear sticks were added to local production. That same year, the "Valiant II" (with the same body style but equipped with a 3687cc (3.7 liter) 137 HP Slant Six engine) was launched.[9]
In 1964 the "Valiant III" replaced model II. It was based on the Dodge Dart, recently released in the US. With 4976mm length, it became the largest car in Argentina, surpassing Rambler.[9] One year later, both companies Chrysler International S.A. and Fevre y Basset Ltda. S.A.I.C. merged, with the new company being named "Chrysler Fevre Argentina S.A.I.C.". By those times, the plant had been expanded to 65,000 m2. Between 1962 and 1964, 27,000 transmissions were produced in the plant. The Valiant IV (based on the Dodge Dart as its predecessor) was launched in 1966 as an update of its previous versions.[9]
In 1968, the "Valiant" line was replaced by Dodge Polara, while all the utility vehicles were rebranded as "Dodge". In 1970, Chrysler Fevre bought the former Siam Di Tella plant in Monte Chingolo, Buenos Aires. That plant was used to produce trucks.[3]
Launched in 1971,[10] the Dodge 1500 (based on the Hillman Avenger produced by British firm Rootes Group, also a subsidiary of Chrysler) became the first mid-size car to be produced by an American firm in Argentina. That was also the first non-US automobile marketed by Chrysler in Argentina. The success of the 1500 helped the company to increase its sells in the country.[11][12] The car had also a station wagon version launched in 1978.[10]
Despite the good sales of its products in Argentina, Chrysler ceased operations in the country because of the financial crisis that the parent company was going through in the US.[1][13] Chrysler not only left Argentina but all Latin America (Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, and Perú) and Europe after a direct order from Chrysler Corporation in Detroit.[3]
On May 5, 1980, Chrysler Fevre sold its business in Argentina and Brazil to Volkswagen, which established local subsidiaries in Argentina and Brazil.
