Canada: 1,426 vehicles per day!

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Chrysler set to resume production in Windsor, Brampton


December 28, 2009

WINDSOR -- Chrysler will resume production at its Windsor and Brampton assembly plants on Jan. 18, the company and union confirmed Monday.

All three shifts at the Windsor minivan plant will be back during the week of Jan. 18 producing 1,426 vehicles a day, said Rick Laporte, president of CAW Local 444. (At its peak in the late 1990s the plant was producing about 1,500 minivans a day.)

The union was informed in early December to expect an extension of the usual Christmas shutdown, which started Dec. 21, sending home some 4,600 hourly workers in Windsor.

The union was told the main reason for the long shutdown is the closing of a stamping plant in Twinsburg, Ohio, and the shifting of the work to other factories, Mr. Laporte said.

Some Windsor and Brampton workers will return the week of Jan. 11 to do clean up and maintenance work.

There will be an extra eye to details as they clean and refurbish the plants to meet the “world-class manufacturing” standards being implemented by the company’s new leadership from Fiat, Mr. Laporte said.

The Brampton plant is also preparing for all-new versions of the 300 sedan and Charger muscle car. Mr. Laporte said he’s not aware of any major changes to the 2010 Town and County, and Caravan minivans.

Both minivans are to get a major upgrade — included the interior, front and rear — for 2011. Mr. Laporte expects production of the refreshed minivans to begin after another shutdown in July 2010.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s in the Detroit auto show,” which starts with a press preview Jan. 11 and opens to the public Jan. 16, he said.

Chrysler also confirmed Monday that four of its U.S. assembly plants and one in Toluca, Mexico, will be shut down the week of Jan. 4-8 for maintenance and preparations for launches of new models.

“We have booked a full slate of orders for the first quarter of 2010, so our manufacturing facilities will be quite busy,” said Scott Garberding, Chrylser’s senior vice-president of manufacturing.

LINK: Chrysler set to resume production in Windsor, Brampton