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Chrysler to boost Dodge Caliber production

09/03/2009, 10:09 AM

By Drew Johnson

Chrysler announced this week that it will be adding a second shift to the Dodge Caliber’s production line at the company’s Belvidere, Illinois factory. The Dodge Caliber was one of the ten most popular vehicles under the government’s cash for clunkers program, resulting in a depleted supply.

According to Automotive News, Chrysler will add a second shift to the Caliber line on October 5th. The second shift will require the hiring of 850 workers and is expected to produce 10,000 extra units of the Caliber this year.

“We are taking this action in response to increasing demand for our most fuel-efficient products,” Michael Accavitti, CEO of the Dodge brand, told Automotive News. “However, we are cautious about the continued volatility in the industry and will monitor demand in order to respond to market conditions.”

The Jeep Patriot and Compass – which are also produced at the Belvidere factory – will continue on their current production schedules.

Chrysler announced earlier this week that it will add about 50,000 vehicles to its 2009 production schedule.

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09/03, 10:17 AM

posted by:

Smegley Wanxalot

This is such good news. A great way to start the day.

09/03, 10:20 AM

posted by:

DenverGuy217

Guess we should give them credit for being optimistic. Wonder what Caliber sales will be for Sept

09/03, 10:23 AM

posted by:

chryslercurse

I guess they are really that stupid !!!! they are never going to make it ……Bye – Bye Chrysler

09/03, 10:27 AM

posted by:

chryslercurse

Hey all you Dodge dealers out there Don’t forget to take all your allocation, these things are hot !!

09/03, 10:50 AM

posted by:

ricky_b

Good news for Chrysler. Not good for those of us who would rather not see more of these ugly cars on the road. (PT Cruiser is way older but still better looking.)

09/03, 10:57 AM

posted by:

JakeK66

Great news on the Mustang and now this! I guess I’ll take the bad with the good. I still like my PT Cruiser I had back in 2002 over this – with any amount of equpiment. The PT may have not been the msot attractive, but before it’s 2006 redo it was a much better built vehicle (probably because it was developed pre-Daimler). Go figure.

09/03, 11:09 AM

posted by:

johnnycanuck

A little off topic but does anyone know if Chrysler does their own CVTs or are they sourced from somebody else?

09/03, 11:12 AM

posted by:

KarLoveBoy88

They have to understand that Cash for Clunkers had strinuous requirements and their lots were the only ones with vehicles left over after Ford, Toytota, GM and Nissan. Its not because anyone actually wanted those things. But It is good for them to think this car can really make a differnence to the economy

09/03, 11:17 AM

posted by:

Borat

Johnny, I doubt that ChrysCo has means and know how to build their own CVT, especially for torquer 2.4L. I bet they buy it.
I think this is good news for Chrysler. For some reason I am giving Chryco more benefit of the doubt then GM. They’ve been f*cked by mighty Benz, our Government helped. Hopefully Machionne will pull them out of the hole. He is new face and a bright guy. At least we know it is not Geitner with Putz at the wheel.

09/03, 11:26 AM

posted by:

A4

Nice to see no additional amount of idiots bought the Compass.
It would also be nice to see the European CRD version come over.

09/03, 11:44 AM

posted by:

superman

i just threw up all over the keyboard

09/03, 11:45 AM

posted by:

volo

I don’ understand why you clame MB for Chrysler failure. MB sure lost a hell to of money in the chrysler deal, because they were not able to get lazy americans to work.

09/03, 11:47 AM

posted by:

Need4SSpeed

My girlfriend likes this car because she thinks it’s “cute”….

And I have nothing more to say… lol

09/03, 12:02 PM

posted by:

JakeK66

Ned4SSPeed – You need a new gf

volo – because they skimped on development costs. Guess you never saw the report about the budgets on developing the Caliber/Sebring ect. versus the GM model lines – Daimler only invest half of what GM did on development of their cars and no, it’s not because GM was wasteful. They thought they could skimp on the Americans and get by. That’s what Daimler thinks of North America.

09/03, 12:07 PM

posted by:

larsim

Hey, Enterprise, Avis, Budget all need this car for their business!

09/03, 12:12 PM

posted by:

And The Winner Is...

Johnnycanuck, I think Chrysler sources the CVT from JATCO, which I believe also sources the CVT’s that Nissan uses.

09/03, 12:47 PM

posted by:

beatusmongous

I love how people are scared that they will see more Calibers on the road because Chrysler is building more. This is not a Field of Dreams case, but more like a “high in your marijuana-smoke filled bedroom” dream case. Just because they build ‘em, doesn’t mean they’ll sell ‘em. If you don’t want to see more Calibers, don’t drive by Chrysler lots.

A female co-worker of mine rented one while her Tercel was in the shop after an accident. She said the car was the worst car she’s ever driven, and she doesn’t even like driving to begin with. Need4SSpeed, have your girlfriend test drive one, and she may not like it anymore. You don’t need a new girlfriend, you just need to give her an education. My wife is learning, too…

09/03, 12:51 PM

posted by:

Need4SSpeed

beatusmongous, lol Last summer when my girlfriend’s lease was up on her Jeep Liberty, she wanted to test drive the Caliber. I stopped her right there and then.

09/03, 1:27 PM

posted by:

Borat

beatus, I drove Caliber several times now as a rental. There is nothing bad to be stated about the car. It is not worse then Chevy or Ford Focus. The looks are different: it is useful hatchback. From the get-go the car was selling very well. In France there was waiting list of 3-6 months (with 1.8L engine). Cars in France a very good looking (IMO). I think the major drawback of this car that it is very European looking (sans those wheel wells).

09/03, 1:37 PM

posted by:

teahead

I’d rather see Calibers on the road than fugly cars like the new Acura ZDX.

Talk about horrific.

09/03, 3:03 PM

posted by:

beatusmongous

I’ve never driven one, so that’s why I was only relaying what she said. I’m sure it’s an okay car. One of her biggest gripes, though, was visibility. She felt there were too many blind spots. She also felt like she was driving a boat, which after being used to a Tercel, almost anything with any sort of mass would feel like a boat. She did say the can cooler was a neat idea, though, but she really hated the interior and the driving dynamics. I pointed it out, though, because she isn’t an enthusiast by any means, and for someone who’s not an enthusiast to take notice like that is interesting to me.

Personally, I don’t mind the exterior, but the interior is not welcoming to me, even with the update. I don’t think I’d even get as far as driving dynamics.

09/03, 6:39 PM

posted by:

Borat

There is nothing to complain about driving dynamics until you drove Kia Rio. Caliber is fine. It is very drivable/ Blind spots are plenty, but most of today’s cars are like that even when they are not hatchbacks. This one does have a good excuse: utility.

09/03, 6:43 PM

posted by:

leftwingagenda

i mind the exterior, and the interior, oh yes, i mind…the caliber has been offending my sense of feng shui for several years…it must be stopped!

09/03, 9:03 PM

posted by:

TL

Well, we all have our opinions n cars.

Just because I like Acura’s doesn’t represent that the next person will.

09/03, 9:05 PM

posted by:

TL

*on

09/05, 9:51 AM

posted by:

elmdodge

INSANITY = CHRYSLER HOPEFULLY CASH FOR CLUNKERS II COMES TO CHRYSLER DEALERS NEAR YOU! HOW STUPID IS THIS MANAGEMENT?

 
 
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