Canada's fragile auto market will have to grow significantly, a new small car has to take off and other models must make inroads in tough segments, analysts explained. "Chrysler's sales forecast is an aggressive stretch," industry watcher Chris Travell said.

Reid Bigland, Chrysler Canada's chief executive, told journalists and industry officials earlier this month that the company's sales will increase from about 166,000 this year to 220,000 in 2014, a gain of 33 per cent. That major increase would come in a market that will improve about 8 per cent in the same period, he said.

The rosy forecast, which mirrors projections in the United States, comes despite a 30 per cent sales slide at Chrysler Canada this year.

Chrysler's market share has fallen to 10.8 per cent this year from 17.2 per cent in 1999, but Bigland is aiming to bump it back up to 13.8 per cent by 2014.