REGION

REGION

Metals, welding groups
plan joint dinner meeting

AUSTINTOWN — The Warren chapter of the American Society for Metals and the Mahoning section of the American Welding Society will hold a joint dinner meeting Thursday at the Manor Restaurant. Dean Phillips of Hobart Bros. will speak on weld strength testing. For more information, call Rich Polenick at (330) 373-3764.

NATION

Chrysler posts gains
in international sales

DETROIT — Chrysler LLC on Monday reported record sales outside North America in 2007, rising 15 percent over 2006 figures.

The private company sold 238,218 vehicles abroad, up from 206,925 in 2006.

“We feel that the international business showed the potential that we have in front of us,” Vice Chairman and President Jim Press told reporters on a conference call.

Still, international sales represented only 9 percent of the company’s business, and it’s only a fraction of the international sales of its U.S.-based competitors, Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp.

From Vindicator staff and wire reports