Chrysler prepping plants for changes

Chrysler is extending the holiday shutdown period through January 8 at:

• Belvidere (Compass/Caliber/Patriot)
• Warren Truck
• Toledo Supplier Park and Toledo North (Jeep)
• Brampton (LX cars)
• Windsor (minivans)
• Toluca (PT Cruiser and Journey)

The reasons cited are scheduled maintenance, equipment installation and supplier changes as Twinsburg (Ohio) Stamping comes close to closure, and preparation for new and refreshed models. Observers currently expect the Pentastar V6 and six-speed automatic transmission to be phased in with an accelerated schedule, helping to improve the Sebring, Avenger, Journey, and minivans. The Charger and 300/300C are due to be replaced shortly, and some believe the new models will go into production in early January after a January 1 Chrysler 300C  introduction. Brampton, where the 300C, Charger, and Challenger are made, will continue “non-production work” through January 15, as will the Brampton minivan plant, implying changes to the company’s popular people movers.

Chrysler’s manufacturing chief, Scott Garberding, said the company had a “full slate of orders” for the first quarter, implying that the closures were not for inventory adjustment. He also noted that the company was implementing “World Class Manufacturing” (the Fiat production system, which is similar in many ways to Chrysler’s recent system).

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