Frankfurt - America's giant auto makers have set themselves on an international expansion course with General Motors' German- based offshoot Opel saying Tuesday it planned to open a production operation in Russia's fast-moving car market. "Full production can begin in a year to a year and half," GM's European chief Carl-Peter Forster told a press conference at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) with the new production facility to be based in either St Petersburg or Kaliningrad.
At the same time, GM's rival Chrysler said that following its separation from the DaimlerChrysler it expects rising sales in particular outside the US with Ford looking to boost sales through presenting an ecologically friendly image.
Speaking at an IAA press conference, Ford's European chief John Fleming unveiled new measures aimed at lowering the pollution levels produced by Ford models.
Coming in the wake of the worldwide debate about global warming, ecological issues have moved to centre stage at this year IAA, which is one of the world's leading car shows.
The Frankfurt Motor Show also marked the premiere of the new Jaguar XF with Ford gearing up to sell off the loss-making Jaguar group.
The launch of the new Jaguar model coincided with speculation that the Indian carmaker Tata might be considering launching a bid for the carmaker.
Likewise, Chrysler is also using Frankfurt as a stage for the debut of its new Dodge Journey, which is a mixture of a van and SUV with the fifth generation of the Detroit carmaker's Minivan and its Cherokee jeep also making their European premieres at the IAA.
Chrysler is likely to complete the break up of its merger with Stuttgart-based DaimlerChrysler next month when DaimlerChrysler shareholders vote to drop Chrysler from the company name. Daimler retains a 19.1 per cent stake in Chrysler.
In the meantime, Chrysler's foreign sales chief Mike Manley told an IAA press conference that 2007 had been the US carmaker's best ever year for international sales.
Chrysler had a strong vision for the future, said Manley.
