Chrysler set to overtake Ford in output

DETROIT, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Ford Motor Co. may have only a few months left before it loses its ranking as the No. 2 carmaker in North America.

DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group appears poised to surpass Ford, perhaps as early as 2007, the Detroit Free Press reported Monday.

With two new Chrysler Jeep models to be unveiled soon and expected to sell well plus Ford's imminent announcement of capacity reductions, Ford could fall into third place soon.

"If Chrysler has some winners with its new products, it could pass Ford in North American production as soon as 12 months from now," said Sean McAlinden, chief economist for the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor.