Chrysler Ups Caliber Production, Kills SRT4
Automotive News [sub] reports that ChryCo will be adding a second shift to the Dodge Caliber line at its Belvidere, IL plant. So do the Pentastar Boyz think consumers will be that wowed by the Caliber’s new, allegedly less industrial-grade interior? Or is killing the SRT-4 “halo” model somehow expected to lift sales?
Sales last month were unchanged from August 2008’s Carpocalyptic 4,000 units. In fact, the only possible cause for the ramp-up was Caliber’s 7,814 unit clunker-boosted performance in July. June saw only 3,538 units sold while May sales didn’t crack 3,000 and April was dismal at 2,544. Weirdly, the Caliber’s Patriot platform-mate saw an even bigger C4C bump in July, and was slowly improving at levels just below the Caliber’s. But Compass and Patriot aren’t getting a production boost. Maybe it is the interior. Or maybe they’re demonstration models for China.
More by Edward Niedermeyer
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Shouldn't the headline be "Chrysler Ups Caliber/Compass/Patriot Production, Kills SRT4"? Or are they only going to make Calibers on the extra shift?
I went to Allpar to see if they had anything on it: Belvidere Plant adds second shift, boosts Caliber production September 2nd, 2009 by Bill Cawthon 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. You are correct. But it just seems odd. If you expect sales in general are going to improve you would increase all production. Color me perplexed.
Are there any sales figures out on the Caliber SRT4? I suppose the fact they are dropping it tells us all we need to know though.