Yesterday, 1,000 Chrysler plant workers who had been idled showed up for shifts at the
company’s Belvidere, IL plant where the new Dodge Caliber and upcoming Jeep Compass are made. About 360 workers
were current Belvidere employees, while the rest came from Delaware, Alabama, Indiana and Ohio. The extra workers raise
the plant’s payroll from 1,650 to 2,650 and double its capacity. Though some automakers seem to be laying off manual laborers left and right, it’s been refreshing to report on other companies who’ve been bolstering their ranks as of late. In addition to Chrysler, Toyota and Subaru announced that their Indiana plant will be back up to full capacity when Camry production goes online, and Kia has recently revealed that it’s setting up shop in Georgia.
[Source: Chrysler]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Rastus @ Mar 14th 2006 3:13PM
Way to go Daimler-Chrysler! This is very good news. See? Build a good quality product and the plants keep humming.
Build slop and they shut down.
Which would YOU rather have, General Motors?
Gunnar Heinrich @ Mar 14th 2006 3:21PM
This is good news for the American auto industry - finally.
Not every one of the Big Three is in trouble.
http://www.automobilesdeluxe.blogspot.com
Bob @ Mar 14th 2006 3:47PM
"See? Build a good quality product and the plants keep humming."
Except the funny part is that DCX makes the lowest quality products of the big 2.5. If defects per vehicle is your definition of low quality.
I think DCX products are fine, but they are more problematic than GM or Ford vehicles. Its perceived quality that sells.
Giggles of Doom @ Mar 14th 2006 4:19PM
that and DCX makes interesting cars, and not the rental car fodder that seems the staple of GM and Ford. Now, they both have some nice vehicles (The Mustang, the Mazda 3, for examples), but it seems they have a hard time making a really good, say, sedan.
The Fusion, while it seems like a pretty good performer and looks ok on the outside, suffers from the interior problem. I sat in one here and at the Chicago auto show and was appalled at the design of the inside. Even the fit and finish was terrible. The seam between the two different colored panels on the passenger side dash was really ragged, the steering felt like touching semi-dry chewing gum, and the switchgear seemed like it was an afterthought.
As you can tell, for me a car not only has to perform well, but as I am going to be sitting in it day after day, I want it to be a pleasant place to be. I don't want my car to have the same insides as an SUV! It doesn't have to be luxurious, but some sort of asthetic would be nice. The Mazda 6 had a descent inside (and out), the Mustang was cool, but screamed "I AM MADE OF CHEAP PLASTIC!", and the Solstice showed us that a simple interior works. Now if they can get their bread and butter vehicles up to par they may get somewhere.
Corey W. @ Mar 14th 2006 4:36PM
I love the new Charger, so I'm not knocking DCX, but my coworker bought a Chrysler minivan late last year, two weeks off the lot it had a major electrical problems that took over a week to correct, a couple of months later the transmission had to be replaced. This was a new vehicle.... :(
Hearing others complain is one thing, but knowing personally 4 people with the same problem from the same company, that's a little more than just coincidence...
Chrysler is far from being top in build quality. Either way, it's good to see the new jobs being created.
Brian W @ Mar 14th 2006 4:38PM
#3 Ditto- That's the plant they built the Neon at.
Rastus @ Mar 14th 2006 4:50PM
I agree totally. Sometimes it's called having your finger on the market (ie, producing products which the customer wants or finds desireable). There are many facets to the term "quality" as you point out.
But one thing we can all agree on is that "quality" (by whatever definition you want to adhere to)...quality sells! That's why business is all about.
Firesales, Bloodsales, "March Madness" (I prefer "March Insanity")...this is the total antithesis of why companies exist in the first place...a healthy demand for a product vs. the idea of pushing a product on a sucker...ooop, I mean customer.
Regardless of definition, I'm glad those 1000 individuals are back supporting themselves and their families.
Aki @ Mar 14th 2006 5:15PM
Giggles makes a good point. Having sat in a bunch of Ford vehicles, the grade of plastic just feels cheap. Mustang interior design itself is nice, but the plastics they use suck. Chrysler 300, Zephyr are about the only interiors for domestic sedans that i'd be happy sitting in. Five Hundred, Impala, Fusion, and Pontiac interiors feel horrid to be in. DC does suffer from reliability problems, but more importantly i think it's getting a better perception than the other Big Two. If it bumps its reliability up, you'd have a formidable domestic brand.
Though, the only upcoming domestic that i'm interested in seeing is the Camaro. Too bad it'll be in 2009 or some distant future.
Glenn Laycock @ Mar 14th 2006 11:04PM
Great news .. good plant there. My Dad got 2 Chrysler Dynasty's and between my brother and me ... we bought (or leased) FIVE Neon-SX20's.
The quality has gone up with every car, my 05 Neon has absolutely no squeaks or vibrations .. I just turn the fan and radio down to enjoy that sometimes.
I know that when I look at Fords, they sure SEEM to be a huge step forward in quality.
Quality and vehicle success does not go hand in hand. I was surprised by how the really well rated plant that made the Buick Century ended up closing (I think I have that right). Also when I read reviews I believe the car was built outstanding but owners were lukewarm on enjoying the car ... I also get his with Camry owners, they seem really disappointed with their purchase, but end up say something like, "yeah, but then again it is "supposed to be" a real good car, but boring and under powered (going up hills), and not nearly as enjoyable to drive as my '94 Intrepid'.
Robert @ Mar 15th 2006 1:40PM
I have to agree with Glenn, my friends dad owns a Camry and he says he only bought it because of the "good quality" funny thing is that the stereo and the A/C keep getting messed up. He has already took that thing to the dealer about six times to get it fixed. He is only glad that it is under warranty. It all has to do with the perceived quality of the car and brand. My family has always owned Chrysler and GM cars and we have never have had any problems with them. My dad still has his first car a 1976 Chevy Nova and his first minivan a 1986 Plymouth Voyager with 300,000 on it and it has not broken down or anything like that, just the usual wear and tear and regular oil change.
Judy Carter @ Mar 27th 2006 9:05AM
what is the name of the new suv that will be out in June; need specs
Mike Mosharo @ Mar 29th 2006 8:12PM
Came across a dodge minivan that I would like to lease, but was told that I need a chrysler employee to provide an ID number to qualify for this special program.
Can anyone out there help me out.
Would appreciate it.
Thanks,
Mike Mosharo
248 625 9643
nike @ Jul 4th 2006 7:30AM
#3 Ditto- That's the plant they built the Neon at.
nike @ Jul 4th 2006 7:35AM
what is the name of the new suv that will be out in June
Mike @ Jul 4th 2006 7:52AM
what is the name of the new suv that will be out in June; need specs
:((
Tod @ Jul 4th 2006 8:14AM
Great news .. good plant there. My Dad got 2 Chrysler Dynasty's and between my brother and me ... we bought (or leased) FIVE Neon-SX20's.
http://hitechblog.pp.ru
http://hiblog.net.ru
http://hi-blog.pp.ru
http://newsblog.net.ru
http://news-blog.net.ru
The quality has gone up with every car, my 05 Neon has absolutely no squeaks or vibrations .. I just turn the fan and radio down to enjoy that sometimes.
http://face-blog.pp.ru
http://wblog.net.ru
http://w-blog.net.ru
http://powerblog.pp.ru
http://anotherblog.net.ru
I know that when I look at Fords, they sure SEEM to be a huge step forward in quality.
http://another-blog.net.ru
http://btblog.net.ru
http://bt-blog.net.ru
http://faceblog.net.ru
Quality and vehicle success does not go hand in hand. I was surprised by how the really well rated plant that made the Buick Century ended up closing (I think I have that right). Also when I read reviews I believe the car was built outstanding but owners were lukewarm on enjoying the car ... I also get his with Camry owners, they seem really disappointed with their purchase, but end up say something like, "yeah, but then again it is "supposed to be" a real good car, but boring and under powered (going up hills), and not nearly as enjoyable to drive as my '94 Intrepid'.
http://fireblog.pp.ru
http://fire-blog.pp.ru
http://power-blog.pp.ru
Tod @ Jul 4th 2006 8:17AM
I know that when I look at Fords, they sure SEEM to be a huge step forward( http://hiblog.net.ru ) in quality.
God @ Jul 4th 2006 8:19AM
http://hiblog.net.ru
I know that when I look at Fords, they sure SEEM to be a huge step forward in quality.
Digg @ Jul 4th 2006 8:39AM
"See? Build a good quality product and the plants keep humming."
Except the funny part is that DCX makes the lowest quality products of the big 2.5. If defects per vehicle is your definition of low quality.
Friend @ Jul 4th 2006 8:54AM
I love the new Charger, so I'm not knocking DCX, but my coworker bought a Chrysler minivan late last year, two weeks off the lot it had a major electrical problems that took over a week to correct, a couple of months later the transmission had to be replaced.