Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Grand Caravan to Grande Punto: Chrysler plants could be retooled to produce Fiats]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/21/grand-caravan-to-grande-punto-chrysler-plants-could-be-retooled/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/21/grand-caravan-to-grande-punto-chrysler-plants-could-be-retooled/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/21/grand-caravan-to-grande-punto-chrysler-plants-could-be-retooled/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Any pending arrangement between Chrysler LLC and Fiat SpA could see a huge reshuffle of Chrysler's manufacturing facilities all across North America to make way for joint production of a new generation of vehicles to be sold with Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Fiat and Alfa Romeo badges. Included among the possible sites for retooling are those in Windsor, Ontario, Canada; Toluca, Mexico; and Belvidere, Illinois.

The Windsor plant is where Chrysler currently builds its minivans, the Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan and the star-crossed Volkswagen Routan. Windsor also happens to be where Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne went to university, but there's talk of shifting minivan production away from Ontario, possibly down to Toledo, Ohio, in order to make way for local production of the Alfa MiTo and a future small Chrysler to be based on the next Fiat Grande Punto. Toluco, where the Dodge Journey and soon-to-be-discontinued Chrysler PT Cruiser are currently produced, could be retooled to build the Fiat 500 and a new Jeep based on the next Fiat Panda Cross. Finally, while Belvidere currently assembles the Jeep Compass, Patriot and Dodge Caliber, the Illinois plant could end up assembling Fiat-based replacements for those vehicles, plus a jointly developed next-gen Jeep Liberty and Alfa crossover, in addition to the replacements for the Chrysler Sebring/Dodge Avenger and Alfa 147 and 159.

Retooling the plants, however, could cost as much as half a billion dollars each. Of course, this plan is all part and parcel of the larger Fiat/Chrysler tie-in currently under negotiation, and would require greater concessions from union leaders - especially the Canadian Auto Workers who have reportedly been hesitant to budge from their position. Should the two automakers come to an agreement, however, the Federal government could consider additional loans, in part to help finance the retooling.

[Source: Automotive News - subs. req'd]

Grand Caravan to Grande Punto: Chrysler plants could be retooled to produce Fiats originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>belviderebelvidere illinoisBelvidereIllinoischryslerchrysler fiatchrysler llcChryslerFiatChryslerLlcfiat chryslerFiatChryslerre-toolretooltolucatoluca mexicoTolucaMexicowindsorwindsor canadawindsor ontarioWindsorCanadaWindsorOntarioTue, 21 Apr 2009 10:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Chrysler idles four plants after supplier goes bankrupt]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/04/chrysler-idles-four-plants-after-supplier-goes-bankrupt/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/04/chrysler-idles-four-plants-after-supplier-goes-bankrupt/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/04/chrysler-idles-four-plants-after-supplier-goes-bankrupt/#commentsFiled under: ,

UPDATE: Automotive News is reporting that all 14 of Chrysler's manufacturing plants could be shut down to the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing of ex-supplier Plastech.


Plastech supplied components like interior trim, engine covers, moldings, door panels, and floor consoles to Chrysler, Ford, GM, and Toyota. The company employed 7,600 people in the US and Canada, and had 2007 sales of $1.4 billion -- including a contract with Chrysler alone that was worth $200 million. Yet due to the rise in the cost of raw materials and lower consumer demand, the company, along with others like it in the past few years, was forced to declare bankruptcy last week.

Chrysler terminated its contract with Plastech last Friday, and is now forced to idle four plants and eliminate an entire shift at another plant while it secures a new supplier. The move sends 10,500 Chrysler employees home. Chrysler hasn't said when it expects those plants to be open again, but workers will find out from plant managers or notices in local media when it happens. So far, no other company supplied by Plastech has indicated it will be slowing down operations.

[Source: USA Today]

Chrysler idles four plants after supplier goes bankrupt originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Feb 2008 15:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bankruptciesbankruptcybelviderechryslerchrysler llcChryslerLlcmanufacturingplantsplastechsterling heightsSterlingHeightstoledo supplier parkToledoSupplierParkMon, 04 Feb 2008 15:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Will there be anything left? Tulsa Belvedere set to be de-rusted]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/28/will-there-be-anything-left-tulsa-belvedere-set-to-be-de-rusted/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/28/will-there-be-anything-left-tulsa-belvedere-set-to-be-de-rusted/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/28/will-there-be-anything-left-tulsa-belvedere-set-to-be-de-rusted/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The SS Belvedere emerged from its not-so-dry-dock almost two months ago, in all its ferrous oxide glory. Apparently the offer of restoration by Boyd Coddington has either been refused or rescinded, but either way, the Mopar is headed to New Jersey for a spa treatment. Safest Rust Remover, a product of the Ultra One Corporation, is going to take a crack at dissolving just the rust, and leaving everything else intact. It makes us wonder, once you dissolve that rust, will there be merely the lacy suggestion of a '57 Plymouth, rendered in mid-century steel?

A website has been launched so you can keep an eye on the progress. All reports about the Safest Rust Remover product are positive, and the non-acid mixture is used to clean Manhattan's Holland and Lincoln Tunnels. A vat half the size of an Olympic swimming pool might be needed, but maybe there's hope for the old girl yet. The game plan for the car is to not restore it, just clean it up and get the engine running -- once those goals are met, a re-unveiling back in Tulsa will be planned. They should get those Skoda bakers for the event so there's at least one perfect looking Belvedere there.

[Source: Hemmings]

Will there be anything left? Tulsa Belvedere set to be de-rusted originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 28 Jul 2007 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>belvidereplymouthrepairrestorerusttulsaSat, 28 Jul 2007 08:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Autoblog Podcast #69]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/20/autoblog-podcast-69/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/20/autoblog-podcast-69/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/20/autoblog-podcast-69/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Podcast #69 finds John breathlessly wringing out Forza Motorsport 2 on his XBox 360 and putting out the call for some really talented people to build an Autoblog car with the game's abysmal editor. Compensation (if any) has yet to be determined; if you make a rusted-out Pacer, it will probably not bring the same reward as a Panoz Esperante would.

Moving on from time-wasting frivolities, we dive right into some news. Our first item is the ute-like Scion xP, which may turn the compact pickup market on its ear and spark some life in that segment, we hope. Going for diametric opposition, we move from compact pickups to race cars with some discussion of this year's LeMans. Speaking of racing, Dan Roth, who fills Damon's spot this week, gets mildly tossed under the bus for his slightly controversial drifting video post. To quote Lucy Van Pelt: "Don't you know sarcasm when you hear it?"

Mea Culpas disbursed, the gang moves on to the 4.5 liter GM Duramax diesel V8 that could find its way into some mainstream passenger cars if we all cross our fingers and click our heels. The monster torque of the new motor would be a delight in a wide range of the General's vehicles, from HUMMERs to Cadillacs. On a lighter, yet still dissapointing note, the exhuming of Tulsa's buried Belvidere makes us glad we weren't the "fortunate" one who wins the Plymouth Oxide Special. We go off on a tangent to wrap things up, armchair quarterbacking which car we'd choose to bury for posterity. 47 minutes should be long enough to keep you grinning (or groaning) on your commute, enjoy!

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Autoblog Podcast #69 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Jun 2007 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autoblogbelvidereburiedforza motorsportForzaMotorsportlemanspodcastracingscionWed, 20 Jun 2007 18:29:00 ESTAutoblog Podcast #69Dan Roth47:29forza 2, lemans, gm, diesel, tulsa, belvidere, drifting, Scion xP, Scion, truck, fuze, fuse, pickup, toyota,<![CDATA[Chrysler plant adding another 1,000 jobs]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/11/chrysler-plant-adding-another-1-000-jobs/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/11/chrysler-plant-adding-another-1-000-jobs/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/11/chrysler-plant-adding-another-1-000-jobs/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Back in March we reported that Chrysler's Belvidere, IL plant that produces the Dodge Caliber, Jeep Compass and Patriot models was hiring back 1,000 workers who had been idled in order to fill a new second shift. Yesterday the company reported it was adding a brand new third shift to keep up with the expected demand for the three models. The additional 1,000 jobs will mostly be new-hires and balloon the plant's payroll from 2,650 to 3,650 workers.

Chrysler even gave us a link for workers interested in applying for one of the positions.

[Source: Chrysler]

Chrysler plant adding another 1,000 jobs originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 May 2006 07:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BelviderecalibercompassmanufacturingpatriotplantuawThu, 11 May 2006 07:56:00 EST