PEBBLE BEACH, Calif., Aug 18 (Reuters) - DaimlerChrysler AG is considering expanding its Dodge brand to overseas markets, including Europe and Australia, due to interest in its Viper sports car and its pickup trucks, said Jim Schroer, executive vice president of Chrysler sales and marketing.
"We're in the process of evaluating the brand outside the U.S.," Schroer told reporters late Saturday during a Chrysler party held here in conjunction with the annual Pebble Beach classic car show and races.
Schroer said there has been amazing interest overseas in the Dodge M80 small pickup truck concept that debuted at the Detroit auto show in January. "There's a niche market in Europe for small pickup trucks," he said.
The brand is also known in Europe and Australia due to the success of the Dodge Viper sports car at the annual Le Mans 24 hour endurance race held in France.
Schroer said that Dodge would only expand overseas as a family of vehicles that would keep their American styling to differentiate them from their local competitors.
"We need to have a vision of a family of vehicles ... to consider taking the Dodge brand outside North America," he said. "If and when we do it, the brand will be the same as it is here. The only reason for the appeal is because it's an authentic American Dodge."
DaimlerChrysler currently sells a relatively small number of Chrysler and Jeep cars, sport utility vehicles and minivans in Europe.