No summer shutdown for Chrysler's Jeep Grand Cherokee plant in Detroit; third shift to be added

Chrysler’s Jefferson North assembly plant will keep producing Jeep Grand Cherokees and Dodge Durangos straight through the customary two-week summer shutdown in early July, CEO Sergio Marchionne said Monday.


Sales of the mid-size SUVs are running ahead of last year’s pace through March by 44% for the Grand Cherokee and by 33% for the Durango. Chrysler’s U.S. sales have increased 39% for the first three months of 2012 from a year earlier.


All automakers will release their April sales in the U.S. on Tuesday.


The plant on Detroit’s east side, which employs about 2,900 workers on two shifts, has been working overtime on two of every three Saturdays, said Chrysler spokeswoman Jodi Tinson. The plant will be adding a third shift of about 1,100 workers next year.


Normally, the Detroit Three automakers and the UAW agreed to half production in the two weeks around July 4 because it enables the companies to balance their inventories with consumer demand and gives skilled trades workers to install new equipment needed for the upcoming model year.


Separately, Chrysler canceled the Monday morning shift at its Windsor assembly plant because of a strike by Canadian Auto Worker employees at a nearby plant that supplies instrument panels. Workers at Dakkota Integrated Systems in Lakeside rejected a contract offer late Sunday.


Tinson said workers on the second shift at Chrysler’s Windsor plant were asked to report to work. Chrysler assembled the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans at the plant.


As read on: http://www.freep.com/article/20120430/BUSINESS0103/120430046/No-summer-shutdown-Chrysler-s-Jeep-Grand-Cherokee-plant-Detroit-third-shift-added