FacebookDiggDel.icio.usMore Bill Pugliano, Getty Images U.S. sales of the Dodge Caravan fell 45% in the first two months of 2008 from a year earlier. Demand for Canadian-made minivans is tanking in the United States as competition from other vehicles grows and the economy slows down, putting pressure on Chrysler LLC to cut output at its Windsor, Ont., assembly plant if industry conditions worsen. U.S.
A strike called by the Canadian Auto Workers has forced TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. to shut down its plant in Windsor. The plant employs about 175 union workers who make suspension modules for Chrysler minivans. The plant exclusively supplies a nearby Chrysler plant. The strike at the TRW plant caused Chrysler L.L.C. to shut down its plant in Windsor at 6 p.m. Thursday, according to Michelle Tinson, manager of manufacturing and labor communications for Chrysler.
North American auto parts maker this week. TRW’s Windsor plant supplies suspension modules and safety systems to the Chrysler assembly plant in Windsor. Chrysler also builds its minivans in a St. Louis plant represented by the United Auto Workers. That plant was not affected by the TRW strike, spokeswoman Michel Tinson said.
The 175 members of the Canadian Auto Workers union went on strike Thursday afternoon. Local 444 says the workers are asking for an increase in wages from $11.25 an hour. The plant makes brake and suspension systems, mostly for Chrysler’s Windsor Assembly Plant. One Chrysler official says the assembly plant could face shutdown if the TRW employees aren’t back on the job soon. The Canadian Press says negotiations were continuing Thursday.
WINDSOR, Ontario, Feb. 29 (UPI) — Factory workers at TRW Automotive walked off the job Thursday night, causing a quick shutdown at Chrysler LLC’s van plant in Windsor, Ontario. The dispute is only about money, Canadian Auto Workers Local 444 president Ken Lewenza said. “They’ll understand that workers that make $11.25 an hour are entitled to make decent wages and decent benefits, “Lewenza told the Windsor Star.
I couldn t agree more with ATL. The whole Chrysler/Daimler thing was just wrong in the first place. There were some who had their pockets lined with Chrysler s money and there those of us who worked for Chrysler, that lost almost everything we reclaimed after the near death experience of early eighties. Where is all the money we had before Daimler took over that had our pension fully funded??? It developed a new C-whatever that none of us with families could ever afford.
CAW union leaders said TRW workers left their posts after they couldn’t reach an agreement with the supplier on wages. “Talks have broken off,” said CAW Local 444 President Ken Lewenza. “We’re digging in our heels for a long one.” TRW managers tried to keep the just over 1-year-old plant running by working the line Thursday afternoon, but that effort apparently failed.
Chrysler is introducing a diesel-engined SRT version of its cool-looking (in a beefy way) 300C saloon and estate. Current SRT models use thirsty 6.1-litre V8 petrol engines. But the new diesel SRTs will have all the style of V8 cars: 20in alloys, leather seats and steering wheel, plus reasonable fuel consumption from a 3.0- litre V6 engine. The new saloon starts at 32,495 and the estate at 33,245.
The U.S. carmaker plans to launch more than seven vehicles this year to propel brand recognition, according to Ulf Ausprung, general manager of marketing and product management at Chrysler Group (China) Sales. Chrysler this week began selling the imported Dodge Calibe , with prices starting at $31,950. It joins the imported Dodge Avenger sedan, which went on sale last month, and the Dodge Caravan , which is being assembled in Fuzhou in a joint venture with Fujian Auto and Mitsubishi Motors.
Chrysler is a little late in the game. Although they have offered a diesel engined variant in most of Europe since 2005, they have dodged the UK market. Nevertheless, Chysler have sold their 300C large saloon in the UK with reasonable success. New owners, Cerberus, are keen to improve the UK arm of the business and realise having a competitive diesel engined option is a now a must in Britain.