Chrysler's South Africa CEO was wounded during a robbery outside Johannesburg over the weekend.

Three men attacked Trent Barcroft and his wife, Cathy, on Saturday afternoon after hitting the couple's Jeep Grand Cherokee from behind, according to media reports and Chrysler SA spokesman Richard Sloman.

When Barcroft stepped out of the car to inspect the damage, Sloman told MSN Autos, he was shot in the abdomen and the three men from the other vehicle stole his watch, wallet and cellphone; they also stole a handbag from his wife, who was unharmed, reports said.

Police have not identified the suspects, but Barcroft is stable in a nearby hospital and is "expected to make a full recovery," Sloman said. The South African Police Service could not be reached for comment. Both Barcroft and his wife are U.S. citizens.

Local media reported the crime early Wednesday despite Barcroft's family wishing to keep the incident private, Sloman said. The attack occurred in Midrand, a suburb north of Johannesburg, on a busy route that parallels a major highway. Kyalami Circuit, a karting and motorcycle track that hosted the former South African Grand Prix until 1993, is nearby on the same road (view location; pin is the general, not exact, crime-scene area).

South Africa is known for having one of the world's highest crime rates, with some areas posting warning signs of "hijacking hot spots." So-called "smash and grab" crimes, when a robber smashes a window in traffic and runs away, are not uncommon in downtown Johannesburg. Other criminals throughout the country have been known to stage accidents on roadsides or hit other cars with the intent of committing a robbery, as appears to have been the case with Barcroft.

Barcroft, who also manages the Fiat brand, has been CEO since 2009 after running the company's Middle East division. During his 30 years with Chrysler, he built up the automaker's dealer network in South Africa in 1999 and was the country's managing director from 2000 to 2005 under Daimler.

Aside from the full Jeep lineup, Chrysler sells three other models in South Africa: the Chrysler 300C, Chrysler Grand Voyager (Dodge Grand Caravan) and Dodge Journey. The company is planning to expand its Fiat and Alfa Romeo brands in South Africa as it is also doing in the U.S.

[Source: IOL, EWN, News24]