BOSSES of Chrysler Jeep in right-hand drive countries have held a summit meeting in Japan with the vehicle manufacturer's American chiefs pleading for more models. The manufacturer's UK director Simon Elliott admitted he was frustrated at the company's inability to expand its model line-up in the UK with right-hand drive product.

This week Elliott, along with Chrysler Jeep bosses from other right-hand drive countries including Australia, South Africa, Singapore and Japan, took a united stance to encourage the manufacturer to introduce right-hand drive models 'where appropriate and viable'. As Chrysler revealed a new left-hand drive model at Geneva - the 2001 2.7-litre Chrysler Sebring saloon making it the first time that the Sebring name had been used on a car in Europe - Elliott said the vehicle would not be coming to the UK.

As DaimlerChrysler European chiefs talked of 'stepping up the pace', 'introducing new models' and 'expanding the line-up', Elliott told Fleet NewsNet: 'If we are going to increase sales, we must have new products. Some fantastic models are being launched but they are not in right-hand drive. We need to develop a range of vehicles in right-hand drive form.