Chrysler Plans Another Long Vacation

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

Having planned to idle production plants for a mere ten days over the winter break, Chrysler is responding to weak sales by extending the holiday shutdown of several plants to three weeks or more. The WSJ reports that Chrysler’s Windsor and Brampton plants (minivans, 300/Charger/Challenger) will shut down starting December 21 and will idle through January 18. The Toledo plant (Jeep Wrangler) will also idle beginning on December 21, and will resume production on January 11. Chrysler is also said to be considering extended production shutdowns at its Detroit Viper factory (which is entering final production anyway) and an unspecified Ram plant. Unless December sales numbers turn out to be humdingers, this winter vacation could possibly go on even longer, as Chrysler struggles under falling sales and a 64-day supply inventory.

Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Sutures Sutures on Dec 04, 2009

    Chrysler: damned if they do, damned if they don't...

  • Dan Dan on Dec 05, 2009

    aakk123 You seem to be a wishful clueless brampton autoworker. The FACT is Chrysler sales are beyond bad. Last year was BAD and this is was 25% WORSE. FACT `Chrysler LLC saw a modest decrease in the sales volume during the month of November in 2007. Chrysler LLC dealers sold 161,088 new vehicles during the month`` FACT Chrysler LLC today reported total November 2008 U.S. sales of 85,260 units`, down 47% from the same month last year. and this year november sales Chrysler sold an embarrassing 63,560 units which was DOWN 25% from last year. Now do you wishful thinkers understand Chrysler will be bankrupt in 1-2 years. This sales are beyond bad. you can not spin these pathetic numbers. Chrysler can retool all they want Fix It Again Tony can not fix chrysler. In FACT in europe JD power rates them poor in the UK, France , and Germany. If daimler could help Chrysler how will Fix It Again Tony (fiat)

    • Roundel Roundel on Dec 05, 2009

      How does spouting past sales numbers gurantee a continuation of those stats? You do know (as was stated in the post you are responding to) that retooling means that... there is a new model coming out. How could you be certain that with a brand new flagship sedan that those numbers are to continue? Not everyone in the general pubic can even remember Fiat being ever in the North American market, the old funny little line doesn't even apply anymore. Its very easy to postulate on the past of Chrysler, but dismissing what Sergio can do is being negative for the sake of it, without look at his past.

  • Dan Dan on Dec 05, 2009

    "How does spouting past sales numbers gurantee a continuation of those stats?" Wow you autoworkers are stupid. November 2007 Chrysler sold 161,088 November 2008 Chrysler sold 85,260 November 2009 Chrysler sold 63,560 This cold hard FACT speaks volumes of the public's lack of interest in chrysler. Also Fiat is not known for quality and is NOT doing well outside of Italy. Fiat is a joke and was given a free company. Obama could not save GM and let Chrysler fail as this would not look good so he saved both. Chrylser for the past two to three years stood and did nothing and now find themselves three years behide the competition. Fix It Again Tony has a free kick at the can and it/when they fail they lose nothing. The new lol cars are being put together in a matter of months. Also I am jeep or my tank is full are very poor and not well thought out ads. Chrysler is going down and all the dreaming wouldn't change that. You autoworkers at the plants are deluding yourselves into a false hope.

  • Roundel Roundel on Dec 05, 2009

    Autoworkers? A student living Connecticut can now be considered an autoworker? Stop broad brushing and again consider that Chrysler's past performance isnt completley indicitive of what is possible. Are you ignoring the fact that Fiat was in its death throes when Sergio took control. While they may not be Toyota, I would not consider them devoid of recent success. Things can not happen in an instance. Is it now the American way to insist upon instant results or failure? Instead of spouting useless conjecture, lets give it time to see if the plan has failed or worked.

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