Sale of Newark Chrysler plant approved

Detroit News noted that the Old Carco has been given permission to sell its Newark, Delaware assembly plant to the University of Delaware. The plant, which most recently made the Durango and Aspen, was one of the last of many Northeastern auto plants to close down. Chrysler Group purchased $25,000 of equipment from the plant [...]

Automated-manual transmissions back on?

Even under Daimler rule, Chrysler engineers pushed forward with what one engineer observer called a state of the art transmissions that eliminated most of the disadvantages of its competitors. The dual-clutch automatic transmission, a manual transmission with two clutches which was operated without the need for driver input, would be smoother than a conventional automatic [...]

Fiat increasing Chrysler team size, cutting waste

As part of Fiat’s drive for efficiency, Chrysler’s existing manufacturing techniques are being changed once again. The empowered work teams are being retained, but cross-training is increasing so that every person in the team can do the job of every other, and the team size is being increased from five to ten. Team leaders are [...]

Wrangler, Ram plants go into overtime

Bloomberg reported that the Warren truck plant which builds the Dodge Ram and the Toledo plant that makes the Jeep Wrangler have scheduled overtime to meet the demand.

Kenosha may be dropped

The Business Journal of Milwaukee quoted Governor Jim Doyle as saying that Chrysler will not buy the Kenosha engine plant, but that Fiat will consider it for ”future opportunities within the Fiat group.” Chrysler is closing the plant, which currently builds V6 engines, in 2010, when new Phoenix engine plants go on-line.

New plant heads named

New plant heads are:

Brampton: Kevin Hayes
Sterling Heights: Joseph Ozdowy
Jefferson North: Patrick Walsh
Toluca Body-in-White and Stamping: Carlos Rivera
Sterling Stamping: Robert Seabolt
Warren Stamping: Lance Schwartz

Other changes include:

James McBride was appointed Head of Central Planning and Investment Control of Powertrain Operations
Donald Dekeyser was appointed Head of the Trenton (Mich.) South Engine Plant.
Andrew Garibian was appointed Head of the [...]

Sebring, 200C: ambiguous future

Sergio Marchionne has stated that Fiat/Alfa will be using Chrysler’s mid-sized platform, in an announcement that may have stunned numerous onlookers, who expected Chrysler to move to a future Alfa Romeo platform. However, the situation is not clear.

Chrysler has two mid-sized platforms at this time: the J-cars, Sebring and Avenger, and the upcoming Chrysler 200C, [...]