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Chrysler idles Illinois plant

10/05/2007, 8:31 AM

By Drew Johnson

Chrysler will suspend production at its Belvidere, Illinois production plant starting next Monday. The production halt — which is scheduled to last for two weeks — is to reduce inventory of unsold vehicles. The Belvidere plant employs about 3,400 workers — operating in three shifts — and produces the Dodge Caliber, Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot.

“It’s being done to adjust inventory levels,” Chrysler spokeswoman Michele Tinson told Automotive News.

Chrysler’s U.S. sales were down 5% in September with the Caliber and and Compass partially to blame. According to Automotive News, September sales of both cars were down, with Caliber sales dropping by 23% and Compass sales declining by 23.5%.

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10/05, 8:49 AM

posted by:

autonut

Hopefully they will spend 2 weeks reviewing quality issues. Those are brand new cars and if they don’t sell what will? And by quality I mean NVH, fit and finish, those details which sell Toyondas in that car category and those manufacturers are running out of capacity in United States and abroad.

10/05, 9:00 AM

posted by:

scottns

How many versions of the Jeep do we need?

10/05, 9:07 AM

posted by:

RicardoHead

You mean the Caliber, Compass and Patriot are undesirable vehicles?
Will wonders never cease?

10/05, 9:48 AM

posted by:

Get Real

Wishing it were the good old days of producing the Omni.

Or the Dynasty and that most recent wonder the Intrepid.

10/05, 10:07 AM

posted by:

sik59rt

this isnt about quality control. Ford did the same thing since sales are down. it makes plenty of sense what they are doing

10/05, 10:26 AM

posted by:

autonut

OK, it’s not quality. Why don’t new cars sell? They are new models: all about 1 year old, Caliber from the go had a waiting list in Europe. They are not gas guzzlers, they are not hideous. They are cheaper. What set them apart from Toyonda models?

10/05, 10:42 AM

posted by:

RicardoHead

Autonut, I see Calibers everywhere, actually. They seem to sell okay so far. Compasses and Patriots are a different story, though. They are about as ugly and undesirable as a vehicle gets.

What sets these apart from the others in their segment is the low-budget impression one gets when one climbs inside. It’s like Chrysler designers took the approach that the customer is looking for something cheap and so this should be rubbed in the customer’s nose each morning on the way to work. Other budget car designers put together an interior presentation that attempts to create an impression that the customer got something a bit more classy than what they actually paid, and that impression is what sets them apart.

10/05, 11:26 AM

posted by:

jackjimturkey

R-head:

There never should have been a non-”Trail-rated” Jeep.

Getreal: The LHs were actually decent.
Dynasty was a joke, and if you look in the right place, you can get an omni for less than a bus pass.

10/05, 12:00 PM

posted by:

purdue

My brother works there. He’ll probably like the vacation. Might go to his beach house in Florida, perhaps.
Love the Patriot. Those are nice. Great value at $15k, w/lifetime drivetrain.

10/05, 1:30 PM

posted by:

TOZO

Now here’s a company that can benefit from a strike. When the UAW comes a-knockin’ for that new contract, Chrysler management should not even try to compromise for like a two weeks. That’ll clear the inventory.

10/05, 1:45 PM

posted by:

autonut

I did not ordered this plant closure. If those cars/trucks/jeeps are selling well – fine by me. But if they are not selling well either because designer/product manager/exec took a road of cheap materials or sub-par components it is indicative of quality. Very non-descriptive Corollas are selling in 6th or 7th cycle year and Toyota is far from closing California plant that makes them. I could be wrong, but in my book looks, functionality and purpose are part of quality. Time and time again consumers are voting with their pocketbooks and if you ask why one car is picked over another it is perception of value, i.e. quality.

10/05, 7:01 PM

posted by:

0GSharK6

I would be a little more than part of the way interested in Dodge/Chrysler cars if they could make an interior. Every new Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep interior looks basically the exact same and it’s all cheapness.

10/06, 10:00 AM

posted by:

shumpy

as sik59rt says it makes sense. Like Ford is slowing truck production.

They have ben running 3 shifts all year at the belvidere plant and those vehicles are part of the reason chryslers market share has been more stable this year. but hey why bring facts into it.

10/07, 3:17 PM

posted by:

deutschetouring1337

What about Hyundai closing theres?

 
 
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