Dodge Viper assembly plant first Chrysler facility to restart after bankruptcy?
Dodge Viper - Click above for a high-res image gallery
The new Chrysler Group, LLC exited from bankruptcy last week, yet its factories have remained closed. CNN Money reports that this streak of inactivity will end when the 115 workers that assemble the Dodge Viper return to business at the Conner Avenue plant in Detroit. The start-up of Chrysler's smallest plant ends seven weeks of shuttered facilities.
Despite Fiat taking a stake in the Viper's parent company, Chrysler, the high-horsepower snake is likely still up for sale. In the meantime, Chrysler could likely use the added revenue that comes with selling 600 horsepower, $90,000 supercars. That the facility will soon be up and running is a good thing, too, as it signifies some demand for a Dodge-brand legend that could live on – even if it is to do so under a different corporate umbrella.
All-in, The Pentastar has only sold 25,000 copies of the Viper since it went on sale in 1992. Thanks for the tip, Dave!
Gallery: 2008 Dodge Viper SRT-10
[Source: CNN Money]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
MemphisNET 10:08AM (6/16/2009)
25,000 copies with a significant profit for each one, and since it is a pretty small operation, it would be the easiest to restart.
Regardless, keep the snakes coming!
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Alex 10:45AM (6/16/2009)
Was it profitable? My understanding was that the Viper was purely a Halo, pushing the envelope of what the engineers could do. Never made money but was never really intended to. Which was why they were going to sell it. I could be wrong.
MemphisNET 10:55AM (6/16/2009)
The initial investment of the 1st gen was a money loss, but brought people into the showroom and into their other vehicles. 2nd and current cars are big money makers.
Level 12:20PM (6/16/2009)
They are not pushing any envelopes with the Viper, It has common technology, A Chevy Cobalt SS has more tech then the Viper. The Viper survives on Brut force old school ways of driving a car and a lot of purist love that...
Tool 4:49PM (6/16/2009)
Once again, shows how tone deaf the New New New Chrysler is.
Whichever plant opened first, it would have gotten press. So instead of opening up a factory that would have been symbolic of the New New New Chrysler, they open up the Vipor factory.
I am lowering my chances of the New New New Chrysler to a 1% chance of being around in 5 years.
Aaron 10:20AM (6/16/2009)
thats how you come out of bankruptsy!!
hell yeah, hit the ground running!!
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IOMTT 10:24AM (6/16/2009)
Margin. Probably great margins! I always liked the first GTS Coupes.
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elpapi32822 10:29AM (6/16/2009)
Bankrupt? Doesn't the US goverment practically owns Chrysler and GM? I know that Chrysler supposed to be bankrupt, but it doesn't make anysense. If the Goverment owns the company how can a company apply for bankruptcy. Is this a mask that the US goverment is putting on so that they won't appear to be communist. This just makes no sense to me.
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Aaron 10:37AM (6/16/2009)
the gooberment took over AFTER they declaired bankruptcy
elpapi32822 10:38AM (6/16/2009)
I know that the US is not a communist country, but the actions it took to give this companies money to bail them out seems to me like is an action a communist country will make. Chrysler and GM is basically own by goverment, and most communist countries own their car factories.
Mr.Oak 11:56AM (6/16/2009)
In life, INTENT goes a long way in how one's action is judged.
A drunk driver Kills a pedestrian - most likely will be charged with involuntary man-slaughter.
A jealous lover INTENTIONALLY runs over estranged lover, backs up and runs over them again. Murder One.
A driver has a heart attack, loses control of car and kills a pedestrian. No charges filed, incident deemed accidental.
In each case a driver killed someone with an automobile.
Most Americans view the government's action as undesired but necessary, especially in the midst of the worst recession in 80 years. Only people with other agendas, like those who backed the other side are trying to label this action dishonestly.
Hugo Chavez nationalizes the the country's oil production and KICKS out the foreign companies. That was an act of socialism.
Though in Mr. Chavez's defense, the oil company was raping Venezuela of it's resources, taking 80% of the profit and giving 20% to Venezuela. He tried unsuccessfully, to renegotiate the contract. So he kicked them out.
This is very different from the US Govt., and the auto industry or the banks. The INTENT was to save or preserve both industries.
Level 12:39PM (6/16/2009)
elpapi32822 10:38AM (6/16/2009)
I know that the US is not a communist country, but the actions it took to give this companies money to bail them out seems to me like is an action a communist country will make. Chrysler and GM is basically own by goverment, and most communist countries own their car factories.
IT was nothing more then a political move for the democratic base to keep their voters which are mostly Unions in control and empowered over the course of the changes. Obama and his advisers were extremely smart in how they handled the situation. The tactics they used are like the Mafia tactics, They lend you money then they tell you, you dont have to pay back but now I own your store front tactics. Everyone knew the best thing for GM and Chrysler to do was to go into bankruptcy to eliminate the unions which was a burden. GM and Chrysler were not aloud to go into bankruptcy because everyone knew what changes they were going to take which was to drop the unions and reform what they get which was the biggest drain from both companies instead the governt lent them money to keep out of bankruptcy, So much money was giving that the Govent now had a say in what GM and Chrysler can do and not do. Knowing what those companies were going to do with the Unions the government democratic base didnt want that so they forgave the loan in exchange for stake in the company and able to influence with the car czars on the decision makings. It was brilliant.. The UAW got to keep their positions they got stakes in the company. That pretty much guarantees Obamas next term with the Unions voting for him again. All in all what has really changed? absolutely nothing. sure GM is downsizing but it will still have to function with the same burdens. Clueless critics complain they wouldn't be in this mess if they built what people want but numbers show they have been the leader in car sales top 2 for the past years how many more cars do they have to make?????? when they are already beating everyone in car sales???its their legacy cost which are hurting them and now with the government control they lost all chances of eliminating reducing such cost. Its going to be a subsidize company to keep the Unions happy and their voters in the pockets.
Steve Lopez 11:11AM (6/16/2009)
Great to have this product up and running.
Hopefully they will pay back the loans that the government gave them quickly.
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elpapi32822 10:42AM (6/16/2009)
From what I know is that they got billions of money from the goverment before they declared bankruptcy.
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dm00012 11:01AM (6/16/2009)
The Government only owns 8% of Chrysler.
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rpiotr01 11:06AM (6/16/2009)
Waiting for Wrangler production to start...
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Martman 12:40PM (6/16/2009)
25,000 units in since 1992. Ford sells more F series, and Honda sells more civics than that in one month.
And this is the first car back in production Way to go Chrysler, you will be out of business soon period.
Gas in some parts of Canada is back up to just about $5.00 cad/per gallon, and chrysler gives us vipers.
I am seeing train loads of corollas, camrys, and fusions arrivng here, and Dodge is going to make more vipers!!! Amazing economic recovery coming from Chrysler.
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teamkitty 1:46PM (6/16/2009)
Being the smallest production facility they have makes it the easiest to reopen and start creating some profits. That's OK Martman, you don't have to buy one if you don't want to. It wasn't really designed for Canadians in mind anyway...
Lanehog 4:02PM (6/16/2009)
You're retarded its a low volume expensive sports car of COURSE it doesn't sell that many units. And do you think that the viper facility is anywhere near as large as the others ? Chryslers not known for making the best decisions but I'm pretty sure the Viper operation is fairly small. And equally small is its consumerbase, who oh yeah happen to probably have some extra cash lying around and dont care about gas prices. There are plenty of places to poke jabs at Chrysler but the Dodge Viper isn't one of them.
Martman 5:07PM (6/16/2009)
Lanehog
The pont is other car makers are focusing on the core of the auto business, mid size and small cars and CUV. Chrysler no such units in production at this time.
The viper is not going to save a bankrupt car company that is billions in debt to US/Canadian goverments and shareholders who lost their investment in Chrysler.
The viper is a great car, but at 1470 units per year it is not a volume seller, which is what Dodge needs right now!!!!!!!
Ford made the GT40 for a few years and then canned it for that very reason.