BEIJING -- The Chrysler group is looking at hiring China's Chery Automobile Co. to assemble a small car for sale in international markets, say suppliers and other sources in China.

Chrysler would sell the car under the Dodge or Chrysler brand, the sources say. One well-placed source says the Chrysler group would not sell the Chery-produced car in the United States. The sources did not indicate whether DaimlerChrysler planned to sell the car in Europe.

Chery President Yin Tongyao planned to visit Chrysler executives in Detroit on Friday, May 5, to discuss the deal, two supplier sources say. A Chrysler spokesman declined to confirm Yin's visit.

In an interview with Automotive News on Tuesday, May 2, Eric Ridenour, COO of the Chrysler group, declined to say whether the company was talking with Chery about assembling a small car.

Ridenour did confirm, however, that Chrysler is talking with as many as three automakers about assembling a small car for sale in the United States. Chrysler CEO Tom LaSorda said in March that Volkswagen AG is one of the candidates, and automakers based in Asia and Europe are being considered...