Chrysler cuts four models & five shifts

Joined
Jun 16, 2007
Messages
2,038
Reaction score
0
Cerberus is really going to shake things up!!

I know people that work for Chrysler LLC and two weeks ago they were all gathered in a coneference room and shown a video with the Cerberus head honcho's" telling them where they plan to go, how they plan to get there etc, etc. After each part of the video they would pass around a questionare and ask questions like "what can you do to halp us realize this target".. Basically a "justify your job" pow wow...NOT FUN!!


Bradford Wernle
Automotive News
November 1, 2007 - 10:20 am ET


an_spacer.gif

DETROIT -- Chrysler LLC, ending days of speculation, said today it will slash 8,500-10,000 hourly jobs before the end of 2008 and cut four vehicles from its lineup as it restructures under the ownership of Cerberus Capital Management LP.

Another 1,000 salaried jobs also are being cut along with about 37 percent of its contractors, the company said. Chrysler will also eliminate hourly and salaried overtime.

Chrysler will drop shifts at Belvidere (Ill.) Assembly, Jefferson North in Detroit, Toledo North, Brampton (Ont.) Assembly, Sterling Heights (Mich.) and Mack Avenue Engine Plant II in Detroit.

Chrysler will cut the Dodge Magnum, the Chrysler PT Cruiser convertible, the Chrysler Pacifica crossover and the Chrysler Crossfire convertible.

In the same time frame, Chrysler said it will add two all-new products to its portfolio: the Dodge Journey crossover and Dodge Challenger coupe, along with two new hybrid models, the Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango SUVs.

“The market situation has changed dramatically in the eight months since Chrysler established the Recovery and Transformation Plan as its blueprint," Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli said in a prepared statement.

Chrysler LLC today announced that it would make volume-related reductions at several of its North American assembly and powertrain plants, and eliminate four products from its line-up.

Shifts will be eliminated at five North American assembly plants which, combined with other volume-related manufacturing actions, will lead to a reduction of 8,500-10,000 additional hourly jobs through 2008.

Additional actions include reductions of salaried employment by 1,000 and supplemental (contract) employment by 37 percent. The Company also plans to eliminate hourly and salaried overtime and reduce purchased services due to reduction in volume.

The volume-related actions are in addition to 13,000 jobs eliminated by the three-year Recovery and Transformation Plan (RTP) announced in February. The objectives of the RTP remain the same.

"The market situation has changed dramatically in the eight months since Chrysler established the Recovery and Transformation Plan as its blueprint," said Bob Nardelli, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Annual industry volume (U.S. market) then was running at a 17.2 million clip. Now, we expect a seasonally adjusted annual volume for 2007 to be significantly lower and carry over into 2008."

"We have to move now to adjust the way our company looks and acts to reflect a smaller market," added Tom LaSorda, Vice Chairman and President. "That means a cost base that is right-sized and an appropriate level of plant utilization."

LaSorda added that third-shift operations at assembly plants usually reflect a high demand after a product is launched. Three of the five plants affected by this action are the result of elimination of third shifts" in Belvidere, Illinois; Toledo, Ohio, and Brampton, Ontario.

In contract negotiations just concluded with the United Auto Workers, Chrysler committed to spending more than $15 billion on products, plants and engineering during the life of the contract through 2011.

The company announced that it will eliminate four models through 2008, including Dodge Magnum, the convertible version (only) of Chrysler PT Cruiser, Chrysler Pacifica and Chrysler Crossfire. In the same time frame, Chrysler will add two all-new products to its portfolio: the Dodge Journey and Dodge Challenger, along with two new hybrid models, the Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango.

"These actions reflect our new customer-driven philosophy and allow us to focus our resources on new, more profitable and appealing products," added Jim Press, Vice Chairman and President. "Further, these product actions are all in response to dealer requests."

Manufacturing Actions

Chrysler will eliminate shifts at five assembly plants, and take further volume-related actions at several other facilities. It will:

Drop third-shift operations at Belvidere (Ill.) Assembly Plant in the first quarter 2008. Belvidere builds the Dodge Caliber, Jeep Patriot and Jeep Compass.

Drop second-shift operations at its Jefferson North (Detroit, Mich.) Assembly Plant in the first quarter 2008. It's expected that the plant will return to two shifts in first quarter 2010 with the introduction of the next generation of sport-utility vehicles. The addition of a third shift will remain an option, depending on market demand. Jefferson North builds the Jeep® Grand Cherokee and Jeep Commander.

Drop third-shift operations at the Toledo (Ohio) North Assembly Plant in the first quarter 2008. Toledo North builds the Jeep Liberty and Dodge Nitro.

Drop third-shift operations at Brampton (Ontario) Assembly Plant in first quarter 2008. Brampton will build the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger. The Dodge Magnum will be discontinued.

Drop second shift operations at Sterling Heights (Mich.) Assembly Plant in first quarter 2008. Sterling Heights builds the Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring sedans and Chrysler Sebring Convertible.

In addition, Mack Avenue (Detroit) Engine Plant II will return to a traditional two-shift / two-crew operation in the first quarter 2008 after operating on a three-crew, two-shift, 120-hour-per-week (3/2/120) schedule. Mack II builds the 3.7-liter V-6 engine.

"I'm confident that we have the right team in place and a business plan that doesn't need to be re-written," concluded Nardelli. "Like all good plans, the RTP has built-in flexibility that allows us to stay one step ahead of market change. And that is the way to long-term sustained profitability."
 
I can't believe they are getting rid of the Magnum.

I can believe everything else.
 
it's a shame about pacifica..we own one and really like it.
 
Not the best of news, but I guess they are doing what they need to do to make the company stay above water and profitable.

Excited about the Challanger though!!!
 
dont tell Surfer they are currently looking at Viper long term, and it doesnt quite fit in their design. They have admitted they need a halo car however, and only Viper fits the bill "currently".
 
dont tell Surfer they are currently looking at Viper long term, and it doesnt quite fit in their design. They have admitted they need a halo car however, and only Viper fits the bill "currently".
willy_nilly.gif
willy_nilly.gif
willy_nilly.gif


Steve Feinberg is a fan of the Viper, luckily lol. Dodge lost money on each unit until the SRT came out. Pefect niche car and halo just like when it came out. Heard the Aspen is gonna get whacked, but then again its just a rebadged Durango, but I guess not since their adding a hybrid model.

They should separate the Viper line and sell to ProDrive :righton:
 
Last edited:
I liked the Pacifica and the Crossfire. I didn't understand why the Crossfire didn't sell better. I wish I liked the Magnum, but just never could get over the way it slopes to the back. Those rear windows look ridiculous.
 
I am hoping for more diesels.
Jeep GC has the awesome Benz BlueTec diesel now. But I'd be too tempted towards the snarling SRT-8 version lol.

Benz ML and GL offer diesels but not cheap, Audi is bring their diesel over but no their V8 diesel which is an excellent engine. I want a mid-full size suv with a diesel so bad, would love if GM offered the DuraMax in the Tahoe/Yukon.
 
willy_nilly.gif
willy_nilly.gif
willy_nilly.gif
They should separate the Viper line and sell to ProDrive :righton:

My hunch is that they will do something with the Jeep brand and the Viper...

I also think that Cerberus owns a good chunk of GMAC and it would really sweeten the pot to have some more - Hmmm, think GM may bey interesed in anything???...who knows, things ARE going to shake up that's for sure. They are private now, different ball game.
 
My hunch is that they will do something with the Jeep brand and the Viper...

I also think that Cerberus owns a good chunk of GMAC and it would really sweeten the pot to have some more - Hmmm, think GM may bey interesed in anything???...who knows, things ARE going to shake up that's for sure. They are private now, different ball game.
Yes GMAC sold majority stake to Cerberus last year. Cerberus execs stated they loved the Viper for what it stands for, it sets the image for the company and have no plans to rid of it, especially after retooling the new model. That was one of the 1st things brought up within the Viper community when sold. Jeep brand is doing well and the fact they now have BlueTec diesel from Benz in the Grand Cherokee line is awesome, great power and mileage. Only problem is I was on ebay the other day searching through the diesel GC offerings, I'd love a mid-size diesel suv, but kept getting drawn back to the SRT-8 Jeeps which is the anti-christ of suv's LOL.
 
Last edited:
I am hoping for more diesels.
:iagree: I would be all over a Wrangler if it had a diesel. But for now I am waiting on the Ram 1500 with a cummins. But I wonder what the price difference will be b/t that and the 2500 Cummins?

Yes GMAC sold majority stake to Cerberus last year. Cerberus execs stated they loved the Viper for what it stands for, it sets the image for the company and have no plans to rid of it, especially after retooling the new model. That was one of the 1st things brought up within the Viper community when sold. Jeep brand is doing well and the fact they now have BlueTec diesel from Benz in the Grand Cherokee line is awesome, great power and mileage. Only problem is I was on ebay the other day searching through the diesel GC offerings, I'd love a mid-size diesel suv, but kept getting drawn back to the SRT-8 Jeeps which is the anti-christ of suv's LOL.
Yeah the SRT-8 is awesome. I saw a Chevy Trailblazer SS the other day and you really have to look to tell it apart. Its a sleeper. Don't how well it accelerates and handles but it does have some generation of a vette engine I think. The Jeep will probrably run circles around it though.
 
Yes GMAC sold majority stake to Cerberus last year. Cerberus execs stated they loved the Viper for what it stands for, it sets the image for the company and have no plans to rid of it, especially after retooling the new model. That was one of the 1st things brought up within the Viper community when sold. Jeep brand is doing well and the fact they now have BlueTec diesel from Benz in the Grand Cherokee line is awesome, great power and mileage. Only problem is I was on ebay the other day searching through the diesel GC offerings, I'd love a mid-size diesel suv, but kept getting drawn back to the SRT-8 Jeeps which is the anti-christ of suv's LOL.

I'm just saying, if Cerberus had more GMAC that could put them in a position to shake the GMAC walls a bit. then they have the chance to do the same thing over again = strip it down (or right size...lol) and sell it for a pretty penny

It’s a different ball game now that Chrysler is private.. They can (and will) react quickly to changes in the market. Had they still been a public company by the time the “right sizing” (as they have been so carefully putting it – Not “down sizing”) was approved it would have taken too long to fully capitalize.

As for the retooling of the Conner Avenue plant (builds the Viper) IMO Cerberus will invest monies in the areas of the Chrysler portfolio that can be made healthy enough to really tempt a possible buyer…Not that they don’t have appealing aspects now (as mentioned Jeep & Viper) BUT, they are just weighted down. Once they shed some fat it will be extremely tempting for some one to just step into a profitable “turn key” operation.

The Cerberus execs may have stated that they love what the Viper stands for and that it “fits” with their image but, take a look at the workers of the plants that are about to have shifts cancelled. They JUST ratified a new contract, they thought and “were told” they were here to stay..guess not.
 
Last edited:
willy_nilly.gif
willy_nilly.gif
willy_nilly.gif


Steve Feinberg is a fan of the Viper, luckily lol. Dodge lost money on each unit until the SRT came out. Pefect niche car and halo just like when it came out. Heard the Aspen is gonna get whacked, but then again its just a rebadged Durango, but I guess not since their adding a hybrid model.

They should separate the Viper line and sell to ProDrive :righton:
You want hybrid Viper???:eek::eek::eek::D
 
How about all those people out of work before the holidays to boot?
 
How about all those people out of work before the holidays to boot?


While I feel sorry for them, the fact is, Chrysler cannot continue to lose money they way they have been w/o going under. They had to stop the bleeding soon or the cuts down the road would have been more severe.
 
It had to be done. I am not saying the management is not to blame for a lot of this. The unionized labor combined with inept management, inefficient engineering is putting themselves out of business.
 
Back
Top