Optimism in Auburn Hills
Much has been said about the various cutbacks at Chrysler, some seeming more intelligent than others. We’re just now seeing 1,000 workers, including numerous engineers and testers, being let go even as Chrysler has a dire need to improve existing product and develop new vehicles. Leasing has just gone out the window at Chrysler Financial. I could go on for a while, but here’s what gives me the feeling that the leaders and owners are highly optimistic for the future.
The Journey is not a barnstormer, and most PTs sold are now base models. Avenger and Sebring are slow sellers despite the move to four cylinder vehicles and smaller cars in general. Likewise, the Patriot, Compass, and Caliber all combined are not pushing the limits of the Belvidere plant by any stretch of the imagination. Someone must have suggested, at some point, either shutting down Toluca and moving the Journey to Sterling Heights, or moving the Avenger/Sebring to Belvidere, or… you get the idea. Between those three plants, one could be shut down without much disruption, if production was expected to continue at its current pace. What’s more, at current sales rates, one of the two large van plants and one of the two minivan plants could be closed without any particular impact. One does wonder whether that was the real reason for closing out the Pacifica, or whether the Pacifica was sacrificed for the Volkswagen minivan.
Newark and Conner Avenue are being closed or sold, but that doesn’t mean much. The Durango/Aspen doesn’t sell well enough for its own plant, and if it moves onto the Grand Cherokee platform, the three could all be built together on one assembly line (four if we include Commander).
However, Chrysler has not announced any further cuts, but have single-shifted or double-shifted rather than triple-shifted these plants. That indicates to me that they expect the Phoenix and automated manual transmissions, VCT Hemi, 2009 Ram, Cummins V6/V8 diesels, and other developments, coupled with the foreseen rise in demand around 2010, to make it worthwhile to keep the plants open.
Maybe they are keeping those plants open with the hopes of developing their own C-segment sedan and coupe and/or a flexible B-segment platform to be produced there in a few years. Here’s hoping!
As an employee, I can’t say I share your sense of optimism. I look at our plants 5 year load plan, and see a huge void after the HB Platform builds out at Newark. Nothing in the pipeline after the under launch RM and DS Platforms. Looks like a death spiral from down here in NE Ohio…In all honesty, who the hell greenlighted those trainwrecks currently in production at BAP and SHAP? How do they still have a job?!?
Greenlights from Daimler committees I’d assume. It’s possible at this point they do plan to close more major plants - also that they aren’t sharing their plans - also that they don’t know yet!
Ah yes, our German Friends. I just wish I could meet Robert J Eaton and personally thank him for selling us down the river. Piles of cash, hot cars, decent quality and 10 years later no cash, ugly cars, chinese water pistol plasticky interiors…and still average quality. I cannot believe the honchos in Auburn Hills haven’t gone to Fiat or Peugot and begged to buy the platforms of a couple of small cars. Let us “top hat” them and put in our new engines and transmissions (definitely NOT that horrid CVT - leave that for the ATV’s…) and let’s start building some small cars dammit. Bring back the Neon, with headers on the doors, a new dash, new engine, and 6sp auto and it will get 34mpg! Saw a real nice Plymouth Neon this past weekend, white with the optional alloy wheels..very nice.
Isn’t the DS platform the 2009 Ram? and the RM platform for the 2009 Volkswagen Routan?
I think that Chrysler could further collaborate with Volkswagen. Rework the Volkswagen Fox or Polo in to a modern day Dodge Dart. Rework the GEMA engines to work smoother. Put the reworked GEMA engine into the “Dart”, also offer the Volkswagen diesel in it. This should get about 40+mpg.
I think you’re missing the point… Chrysler CAN do BETTER than Volkswagen. Admittedly not in diesels.
Yes, the DS is the beautiful new Ram and the RM is the new VW Van. After riding in and driving some of the PM/MK/JC vehicles, I’m not sure we could do better than Yugo, let alone VW. It wasn’t that long ago we had the best management staff in the business (Stalkamp, Pawley, etc.) directing one of the most exciting car companies in the world. Now? Based on our current vehicles, and the blood letting in Auburn Hills, I don’t know if we’ve got the brainpower left to put out a new platform. If we start from a clean sheet (can you say Project “D”), we’re 3 years away from something new. Chrysler needs to get in bed with a Fiat or Peugot, someone with no presence in the USA. They are small car experts in Europe, and both parties could stand to profit nicely from some sharing of Platforms. I hear that Fiat is looking to build cars in the US at one of their New Holland/CASE IH plants. I wouldn’t mind seeing some dual badved Fiat and Dodge cars rolling out of Newark Assy with stampings from my plant, it sure beats seeing Newark closed. Has anyone seen the Alfa Romeo MiTo? Sure looks good next to a Caliber!