Chrysler LLC on Monday reported record sales outside North America in 2007, rising 15 per cent over 2006 figures, even as its sales worldwide slipped.

The private company said it had its best year in international markets for 2007, selling 238,218 vehicles, up from the 206,925 it sold 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 nine per cent of the company's business. Executives said Chrysler is trying to expand that by bolstering its dealer network and forming alliances with automakers across the globe.

Total sales outside the U.S. amounted to 599,618, up eight per cent from 2006, but sales worldwide dropped just less than one per cent to 2.68 million vehicles, due largely to a three per cent decline in U.S. sales last year.