Belvidere Plant adds second shift, boosts Caliber production

Chrysler has announced it will add shift at the Belvidere, Illinois Assembly Plant to make an additional 10,000 Dodge Calibers this year. Production of the Jeep Compass and Patriot will not be increased.

The increase will add 850 workers to the plant’s employee rolls and will restore inventories of the Caliber, which had shrunk to a 15-day supply because of consumer demand during the Cash for Clunkers program.

“We are taking this action in response to increasing demand for our most fuel-efficient products,” said Michael Accavitti, CEO for the Dodge brand. “However, we are cautious about the continued volatility in the industry and will monitor demand in order to respond to market conditions.”

Chrysler has now added about 50,000 units to its 2009 production schedule.