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The Detroit Free Press is reporting the Chrysler LLC will close four of its assembly plants from February 9-13 due to "economic conditions". The four plants to be idled are in Brampton, Ontario; Sterling Heights, MI.; Belvidere, IL and Detroit. The Brampton plant builds the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger, while Sterling Heights Assembly handles the Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring. The plant in Belvidere builds the Dodge Caliber, Jeep Compass and Patriot, and the Detroit plant builds just the Viper. These four, along with the rest of Chrysler's assembly plants, were also idled from December 19th through January 19th during an extended shut down period over the holiday break. Apparently they weren't shut down long enough, as falling sales as rising inventory are still hurting the company. Last month, Chrysler LLC sales were down 54.8% by volume compared to January 2008. More temporary plant closings would not be surprising, as Chrysler reportedly reviews its production schedule on a weekly basis.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Chrysler temporarily closing four plants in February originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Feb 2009 14:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's no secret that Chrysler is in the fight of its life, and the Auburn Hills automaker is pulling out all the stops to keep the lights on -- even if it means closing the doors. Chrysler is shuttering all of its plants for one month, beginning December 19. In a short release to the media, Chrysler blamed the continued credit crunch as the main reason for the shutdown, and is trying to better-align its vehicle stock with customer demand. Dealers have notified the Pentastar that they've got plenty of perspective buyers, but an astonishing 20-25% of customers are unable to obtain financing. Ouch. On the bright side, Chrysler plant workers will have a really, really long Christmas break at 95% pay, which can't be too horrible.

Chrysler's move is far from unprecedented, though, as GM announced on Monday that it would be cutting production by 250,000 units in Q1 2009. GM has also delayed production of its Flint engine plant. Toyota has also delayed plans to open its unfinished Mississippi plant, and Mitsubishi is closing its Illinois plant for seven weeks. This is one depressed automotive market, and Chrysler may be getting hit worst of all. Hit the jump to see Chrysler's mini-release for yourself.

Continue reading Chrysler to shut down plants for a full month

Chrysler to shut down plants for a full month originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chrysler shutdownChryslerShutdowndodgejeepplant closingPlantClosingWed, 17 Dec 2008 18:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Merry Christmas: Envoy, Trailblazer, 9-7X plant closing Dec. 23rd]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/06/merry-christmas-envoy-trailblazer-9-7x-plant-closing-dec-23r/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/06/merry-christmas-envoy-trailblazer-9-7x-plant-closing-dec-23r/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/06/merry-christmas-envoy-trailblazer-9-7x-plant-closing-dec-23r/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Looks like that Moraine, Ohio plant that was going to be shut down next year is actually going to be shuttered on December 23rd, just in time for Christmas. This is the plant responsible for production of the GMC Envoy, Chevy Trailblazer and Saab 9-7X. The General had already slowed the plant to just one shift as SUV sales, particularly sales of old SUVs like these, continue to tumble, but the plant was expected to remain open until at least early next year. On Friday the remaining 1,100 workers were gathered and told of the revised plan.

The closure isn't a total surprise, as General Motors had already announced that the Dayton-suburb plant would be closed so the company could focus more on production of small cars. That initial announcement seemed to indicate a 2010 closure, but the company has continually revised the closing date until this most recent word came. Moraine is one of four GM plants that are going to be shut down. When Janesville, Wis.; Oshawa, Ontario; and Toluca, Mexico join Moraine in closure, a total of 8,350 workers will be looking for new jobs.

[Source: Detroit News]

Merry Christmas: Envoy, Trailblazer, 9-7X plant closing Dec. 23rd originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM's Oshawa Truck plant has been slated for closure in 2009, but GM has announced that the embattled plant will still build the Silverado Two-Mode hybrid beginning later this year. The move was well received by the CAW, which hasn't exactly been playing nice with the General since it got word of the plant's closure. The CAW threw up a blockade of GM's Canadian headquarters from June 4-15 in response to the General's announcement that it would close the facility. There has been some talk about perhaps switching the plant to car production, but GM has made no announcements and CEO Rick Wagoner didn't sound too optimistic about the plant's future when he announced the closing. At least the hybrid Silverado will help ensure that the plant has steady production for the near-term, but it'll likely have to be a lot more popular than the Tahoe hybrid if it's going to help Oshawa Truck stay open. Thanks for the tip, LIP!

[Source: CBC]

Embattled Oshawa plant to get GM hybrid truck production, will still close in 2009 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Jun 2008 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Chevy Silverado HybridChevySilveradoHybridGMoshawa plantOshawaPlantplant closingPlantClosingtwo-mode hybridTwo-modeHybridThu, 26 Jun 2008 08:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Tower Automotive workers accept pay cuts, save plants]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/28/needs-posting-tower-workers-agree-to-cuts-save-plants/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/28/needs-posting-tower-workers-agree-to-cuts-save-plants/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/28/needs-posting-tower-workers-agree-to-cuts-save-plants/#commentsFiled under: ,

Hourly workers at two Tower Automotive plants have voted to accept pay cuts that will ensure their plants remain open as the supplier struggles to emerge from bankruptcy. Tower had asked a judge for the power to cancel union contracts and cut workers as it saw fit, but the acceptance of wage reductions at these two plants have prompted the company to withdraw its request.

About 2,100 hourly workers will be affected by these pay cuts at plants in Bluffton, Ohio and Elkton, Michigan. Bluffton UAW members will be receiving a pay cut of about 75 cents an hour, while Elkton workers will see their hourly wages drop by about $1. Another plant run by Tower Automotive in Clinton Township, Michigan also voted on and approved a two-year contract extension with no changes. Tower Automotive had reached these tentative deals with the UAW and USW in late July and have been waiting since that time for union members to ratify the arrangement.

Clearly members of the United Auto Workers and the United Steelworkers of America that represent these facilities realized they would either have to accept a pay cut or risk the closing of the plants all together.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Tower Automotive workers accept pay cuts, save plants originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Aug 2006 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It looks like General Motors will have no problem meeting its goal of cutting 30,000 jobs in the U.S., according to United Autombile Workers president Ron Gettelfinger.

With about a week to go before GM's employee buyout offer expires, about 25,000 UAW members have signed up (around 22 percent of the UAW's GM membership) and Gettelfinger expects the final number to be at least 30,000. Another 8,500 workers at bankrupt auto parts supplier Delphi have accepted buyout offers, more than a third of its UAW membership. Delphi is planning eventually to cut 14,000 UAW jobs.

[Source: New York Times]

Take the money and run - GM employees opting for buyout originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jun 2006 13:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>delphigeneral motorsGeneralMotorsgm restructuringjob cutsplant closingUAWunionunited auto workersunited automobile workersThu, 15 Jun 2006 13:51:00 EST