"The dream height determines achievements height", a sentence in an encouragement letter to employees and dealers two years ago now is reflecting Daphne Zheng ’s career, the president and general manager Chrysler China Sales Company.
Few industry and insiders believed she could manage to operate Chrysler’s struggling China division when she initially joined Chrysler because she was inexperienced in sales, but eventually the result proved value of dreams and persistence of Daphne Zheng .
The latest official data shows in 2012 Jeep brand sales in China grew by 117%,compared with 2011, which logs 24 consecutive months of year-on-year growth. The sales hit a record high since 2000, while China became the biggest market of Jeep brand aside from North America.
Additionally, models of Jeep Brand also hit a record high. Grand Cherokee sales in China rose 68%. Jeep Wrangler sales rose 76%, while Jeep Compass and Patriot sales rose 124%, becoming China's largest selling imported compact SUV.
After Chrysler brand and new models re-imported to Chinese car market, the brand almost went bankruptcy but finally survived, had a certain degree of market acceptance. According to Daphne Zheng , Chrysler brand was officially listed around September and October, but product sale is showing a positive trend.
Although in terms of specific sales, Jeep and Chrysler couldn’t overtake other multinational brands. However, from the perspective of brand value, Jeep is returning to the status of "hardcore SUV” originator and symbol, thus Chrysler once again regains support among the rich in China.
“Considering brand potential, such sales performance is insignificant”, despite Daphne Zheng ’s achievement of operating Chrysler China is recognized outside, she is not satisfied. To bring Jeep Brand to the top three SUV brands and help Chrysler brand achieve strong return become her new dream.
"I know others are still not optimistic, but I think the Jeep experience in China demonstrates that the outcome depends on what kind of person to do it,” said Daphne Zheng . The past success gives Daphne Zheng such confidence, and she is looking forward to the future.