Posted on: Friday, November 19, 2004

Matson Navigation Co. loses Chrysler business

By Dan Nakaso
Advertiser Staff Writer

Chrysler group has dropped Matson Navigation Co. and will begin shipping its vehicles to Hawaii in March aboard Pasha Group's new $70 million, 579-foot ship named the MV Jean Anne.

The Pasha Group, based in Corte Madera, Calif., will deliver Chryslers to ports in Honolulu, Kahului, Hilo and Nawiliwili from Chrysler's operations in Mira Loma, Calif., and Pasha's San Diego, Calif., auto processing facility.

The MV Jeane Anne can carry more than 3,000 vehicles on 10 decks. The ship is owned and operated by Pasha Hawaii Transport Lines, a joint venture between The Pasha Group and Strong Vessel Operators LLC, based in Stamford, Conn.

Pasha officials offered no comments yesterday beyond a one-page press release, which said only that its Chrysler contract will run for multiple years. The statement did not address shipping charges.

Any reduced shipping costs, if at all, would most likely benefit Chrysler and not consumers, said Dave Rolf, executive director of the Hawai'i Auto Dealers Association.

The National Automobile Dealers Association more than 30 years ago helped sponsor legislation that equalized freight costs for every part of the country, Rolf said.

With Pasha's announcement yesterday, Rolf said, "There doesn't seem to be a change in the purchase price for the consumer. It's really more of a change for the manufacturer shipping cars to Hawai'i, if in fact there's a change in shipping costs."

Chrysler representatives in Hawai'i did not return calls seeking comment.

Hawai'i drivers registered 441 Chryslers last year, making up 0.7 percent of the market share. This year, the number of registered Chryslers is forecast to increase to 528, nudging Chrysler's market share in the Islands up to 0.8 percent, according to a recent forecast by the independent Hawaii Auto Outlook.

Although Pasha will now bring Chryslers to Hawai'i, Matson spokesman Jeff Hull said Matson will continue to ship more brands of vehicles and more often.

"We're still the leading deliverer of autos," Hull said. "They have one ship and we have a fleet of eight. We believe there is value in frequency of deliveries. ... We still have long-term relationships with virtually all of the auto manufacturers — GM, Ford, Mercedes-Benz. ... But Chrysler has gone to Pasha."

Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-8085.