FCA Advanced VDS Feature
Oct 9, 2019
Tony Mancina, Director of Engineering at the Automotive Research and Development Centre in Windsor Ontario, highlights some of features of the all-new advanced vehicle driving simulator.
FCA Canada News :
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Third shift to continue at Windsor Assembly ‘until further notice’
The third shift will continue at Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles’ Windsor Assembly Plant, for the time being.
Blackburn News has learned that the plant will continue to operate at full tilt beyond the previously-announced date of the end of 2019, according to a short statement provided by LouAnn Gosselin, head of communications for FCA Canada.
Gosselin told BlackburnNewsWindsor.com that the three-shift operation will continue “until further notice”. She also indicated that this does not mean that the third shift has been saved, only that there is no concrete date set for the end of the shift.
The automaker had originally announced on March 28 that the third shift would be discontinued by September 30 due to a change in the auto market for consumers from smaller cars and minivans to full pickup trucks and SUVs.
Third-shift workers first received a reprieve in June when Chrysler received a large fleet order for the minivans built at the plant. Unifor Local 444, which represents the plant workers, was then told by FCA in August that the elimination was being pushed off again, this time until the end of this year, due to a larger-than-expected increase in sales for the Chrysler Pacifica minivan.
About 1,500 jobs at the plant are still affected.
In related news, the union local said Friday afternoon that the plant will be on a layoff from November 4 to November 10.
blackburnnews.com
The third shift will continue at Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles’ Windsor Assembly Plant, for the time being.
Blackburn News has learned that the plant will continue to operate at full tilt beyond the previously-announced date of the end of 2019, according to a short statement provided by LouAnn Gosselin, head of communications for FCA Canada.
Gosselin told BlackburnNewsWindsor.com that the three-shift operation will continue “until further notice”. She also indicated that this does not mean that the third shift has been saved, only that there is no concrete date set for the end of the shift.
The automaker had originally announced on March 28 that the third shift would be discontinued by September 30 due to a change in the auto market for consumers from smaller cars and minivans to full pickup trucks and SUVs.
Third-shift workers first received a reprieve in June when Chrysler received a large fleet order for the minivans built at the plant. Unifor Local 444, which represents the plant workers, was then told by FCA in August that the elimination was being pushed off again, this time until the end of this year, due to a larger-than-expected increase in sales for the Chrysler Pacifica minivan.
About 1,500 jobs at the plant are still affected.
In related news, the union local said Friday afternoon that the plant will be on a layoff from November 4 to November 10.
Third shift to continue at Windsor Assembly ‘until further notice’
The union representing employees, however, says they have not received any new information.
blackburnnews.com
Dodge Grand Caravan: The rolling dead?
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November 18, 2019
Dodge’s minivan must be some sort of motorized zombie. How else can you explain its ability to live on and on and on?
I’ve been writing about “the end” of the transcendent people mover since November 2016.
“A letter of understanding sent from Magna International to Unifor says its Integram Seating plant will cease delivery of the Caravan seating to FCA’s Windsor assembly plant in July 2019, likely marking the end of the minivan’s run,” I wrote on our website back then.
In May 2019, industry analyst Joe McCabe said FCA plans to replace the Grand Caravan with the entry-level Voyager, based on the Chrysler Pacifica. Even FCA Canada has said the Dodge Grand Caravan “will eventually go away.”
And now this: The “garageable van” might get its latest stay of execution from none other than U.S. President Donald Trump. He is hellbent on revoking California’s authority — granted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the 1970s — to require automakers to build vehicles with tougher emissions standards than U.S. federal regulations. And that might breathe new life into the Grand Caravan.
That’s because come 2020, the Caravan won’t meet California standards, or the standards of other states that follow the Golden State.
Unifor officials tell me they hope Trump wins the battle over California’s ability to set its own standard, thereby allowing the minivan to be sold in America’s most populated state.
Imagine that, a Canadian union cheering on a conservative U.S. president.
Unifor strongly believes more product is needed — whether new, old or stale — to save the third shift at FCA’s Windsor, Ont., minivan plant. So, whether it’s a new crossover or the Dodge Grand Caravan matters little to the 6,000 people who work there, and the thousands more who supply the parts.
Even if FCA does kill the Caravan — at this point by way of a silver bullet or stake through the heart — the name itself might still live on.
I say that because Allpar, a website dedicated to all things Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, is reporting — “according to sources within FCA Canada” — that the lower-priced Voyager, being built on the Pacifica platform, will be called the Grand Caravan in Canada.
“The Chrysler Voyager will initially only be available in the U.S. market, but will be available in Canada at a later date,” FCA Canada spokeswoman Lou An Gosselin said via email in October.
“While we’ve announced the the Dodge Grand Caravan is the minivan that will eventually go away, we’re not going into more detail at this time.”
Keeping the name in Canada makes sense. The Grand Caravan had always looked like the defunct higher-end Chrysler Town & Country. And it’s the country’s most popular minivan (thank the Canada Value Package for that). It had outsold the Pacifica seven-to-one through September, 22,216 to 3,122. So, it might still be here a while.
canada.autonews.com
November 18, 2019
Dodge’s minivan must be some sort of motorized zombie. How else can you explain its ability to live on and on and on?
I’ve been writing about “the end” of the transcendent people mover since November 2016.
“A letter of understanding sent from Magna International to Unifor says its Integram Seating plant will cease delivery of the Caravan seating to FCA’s Windsor assembly plant in July 2019, likely marking the end of the minivan’s run,” I wrote on our website back then.
In May 2019, industry analyst Joe McCabe said FCA plans to replace the Grand Caravan with the entry-level Voyager, based on the Chrysler Pacifica. Even FCA Canada has said the Dodge Grand Caravan “will eventually go away.”
And now this: The “garageable van” might get its latest stay of execution from none other than U.S. President Donald Trump. He is hellbent on revoking California’s authority — granted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the 1970s — to require automakers to build vehicles with tougher emissions standards than U.S. federal regulations. And that might breathe new life into the Grand Caravan.
That’s because come 2020, the Caravan won’t meet California standards, or the standards of other states that follow the Golden State.
Unifor officials tell me they hope Trump wins the battle over California’s ability to set its own standard, thereby allowing the minivan to be sold in America’s most populated state.
Imagine that, a Canadian union cheering on a conservative U.S. president.
Unifor strongly believes more product is needed — whether new, old or stale — to save the third shift at FCA’s Windsor, Ont., minivan plant. So, whether it’s a new crossover or the Dodge Grand Caravan matters little to the 6,000 people who work there, and the thousands more who supply the parts.
Even if FCA does kill the Caravan — at this point by way of a silver bullet or stake through the heart — the name itself might still live on.
I say that because Allpar, a website dedicated to all things Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, is reporting — “according to sources within FCA Canada” — that the lower-priced Voyager, being built on the Pacifica platform, will be called the Grand Caravan in Canada.
“The Chrysler Voyager will initially only be available in the U.S. market, but will be available in Canada at a later date,” FCA Canada spokeswoman Lou An Gosselin said via email in October.
“While we’ve announced the the Dodge Grand Caravan is the minivan that will eventually go away, we’re not going into more detail at this time.”
Keeping the name in Canada makes sense. The Grand Caravan had always looked like the defunct higher-end Chrysler Town & Country. And it’s the country’s most popular minivan (thank the Canada Value Package for that). It had outsold the Pacifica seven-to-one through September, 22,216 to 3,122. So, it might still be here a while.
Dodge Grand Caravan: The rolling dead?
Our Greg Layson has been writing about “the end” of the transcendent people mover since November 2016. Now, the “garageable van” might get its latest stay of execution from none other than U.S. President Donald Trump.
canada.autonews.com
6
Buying Winter Tires: What Canadians Need to Know
Everything you wanted to know, but were afraid to ask
By AutoGuide.com Staff Dec 24, 2019
While we’re now already well into winter, it’s never too late to benefit from a good set of winter tires. All-season tires of the sort that most new passenger vehicles leave the factory with today do a decent job of providing year-round usability, but in northern climates – especially Canada – they’re simply not up to the task of providing adequate traction when the weather turns nasty.
Traction, as we all know, can mean the difference between keeping all four tires on the road, and taking an unplanned detour off the pavement into a snow bank (or worse). Not to mention, adding winter tires can also lower your insurance premiums in Canada.
Whether your winter vehicle is a car, truck or SUV, a set of new winter tires can make all the difference, helping bring out its best driving performance, providing many kilometres of safety, security, and peace-of-mind. But there are many different factors to consider before purchasing a set, and navigating the plethora of winter tire options out there can be tricky for the uninitiated. (That’s no excuse for going without them, however.)
We’ve partnered with TDot Performance to put together a handy guide to selecting the best winter tires for your ride. A Canadian-owned and operated online auto parts retailer, TDot Performance is focus on providing Canadians with parts that might otherwise have to be purchased from the United States, saving them time and money — not to mention customs duties, brokerage fees, unfavourable exchange rates and other assorted headaches. That includes tires from big-name brands Canadians know and trust, like BFGoodrich and Michelin.
Winter Wheels
Mounting and dismounting tires from a single set of wheels is a chore, and one that can become expensive in short order. For that reason, many seasoned winter driving veterans keep an alternate set of “winter wheels” handy, so that when the seasons change, they can simply swap the wheels out, without the extra step of having to get everything mounted and balanced.
If you choose to go this route, make sure that you purchase wheels with the correct bolt pattern, offset and center bore for your vehicle. Large brakes like those found on many performance cars are also a concern; you’ll need wheels wide enough in diameter to leave adequate space for your vehicle’s brake calipers. Steel wheels are often favoured for winter driving for their ease of repair, although they tend to be heavier (and uglier) than alloy wheels — but again, the goal here is safety, not fashion.
Tire Sizing
This may sound obvious, but it’s an important step: once you have your wheels selected, you’ll need to make sure the new tires you’re shopping for will fit. Unfortunately, the standard way of expressing tire sizing can be confusing. For road tires, it most often begins with either a “P” for “Passenger” or “LT” for “Light Truck,” followed by the “section width” in millimetres, the height “aspect ratio” as a percentage, the letter “R” for “Radial” construction, and the diameter of the wheel, expressed in… inches. (Sorry, Canada.)
For example: if you see a tire with the alphanumeric code “P225/55R17” – it’s a Passenger tire with a section width of 225 mm, a height that is 55 percent of the section width, radial construction, and an inner diameter made to accommodate a 17-inch wheel.
Confused? Then we probably shouldn’t even mention flotation tire sizing – another standard, unique to off-road tires, that expresses sizing as the tire’s outer diameter, width, and wheel diameter, in that order, all in inches (e.g. 32×10.50R16).
Selecting the Right Tire
Finally, the most important part of any winter tire buyer’s guide: how to choose the best winter tires for your needs. Tires that exceed established winter performance requirements are denoted by a symbol on the sidewall showing a three-peak mountain with a snowflake. Generally, they fall between two extremes: ice tires and snow tires.
Ice tires tend to have close-set tread blocks with lots of incisions, and are made from compounds containing more silica, keeping them more flexible in frigid conditions, affording superior cold-weather traction. Tires like the well-known – and well-regarded – Michelin Ice-X Xi3 fit the mould.
Snow tires, conversely, tend to have farther-set tread blocks, allowing them to more effectively “scoop” their way through deep snow, similar to how off-road tires are designed to grab loose surfaces. Their compounds are generally firmer, giving them greater tread life at the expense of some cold-weather traction. Tires like the BFGoodrich Winter T/A KSI and the Uniroyal Tiger Paw Ice & Snow 3 fall closer to this end of the spectrum, although both BFGoodrich and Uniroyal have taken pains to ensure the tires’ respective compounds still have a decent mix of flexibility.
Which of these two extremes is more useful for you comes down to where you live, and the sort of conditions you anticipate driving in more often. Ice tires are generally aimed at those whose commutes favour city and highway driving – places where plowing is prompt, and constant traffic is more likely to melt the snow (so that it can later refreeze into a hazardous sheet of ice, naturally). Snow tires, meanwhile, are better suited to those who do most of their driving on lower-traffic roads or in more rural areas, where there’s a greater chance of snow piling up on the road — and remaining there until the plows and salt trucks finally make their way out.
And then there are high-performance winter tires – like the Michelin Alpin A4. This category is reserved for tires that sacrifice some amount of snow/ice grip in order to maintain superior dry road handling — a potential issue for winter tires — making them a sort of jack-of-all-trades. They tend to be most popular with sports car and muscle car owners who drive their performance vehicles year-round instead of letting them hibernate in a warm and toasty garage for the winter months.
In addition to those we’ve already mentioned, other top winter tire brands include Falken and Dick Cepek. But while each winter tire design is different, it’s hard to go wrong — especially if you’re coming from a set of generic, factory-installed all-season tires. Compared to those, any decent set of winter tires is going to provide far more safety, security and peace of mind when those crummy winter conditions inevitably hit.
If you’re ready to pull the trigger on some new tires for your winter ride, or just want to do more research on which sets might be right for you, the folks at TDotPerformance.ca can help. The company offers free shipping within Canada, a best price guarantee, 30-day no hassle returns, and a full warranty.
Everything you wanted to know, but were afraid to ask
By AutoGuide.com Staff Dec 24, 2019
While we’re now already well into winter, it’s never too late to benefit from a good set of winter tires. All-season tires of the sort that most new passenger vehicles leave the factory with today do a decent job of providing year-round usability, but in northern climates – especially Canada – they’re simply not up to the task of providing adequate traction when the weather turns nasty.
Traction, as we all know, can mean the difference between keeping all four tires on the road, and taking an unplanned detour off the pavement into a snow bank (or worse). Not to mention, adding winter tires can also lower your insurance premiums in Canada.
Whether your winter vehicle is a car, truck or SUV, a set of new winter tires can make all the difference, helping bring out its best driving performance, providing many kilometres of safety, security, and peace-of-mind. But there are many different factors to consider before purchasing a set, and navigating the plethora of winter tire options out there can be tricky for the uninitiated. (That’s no excuse for going without them, however.)
We’ve partnered with TDot Performance to put together a handy guide to selecting the best winter tires for your ride. A Canadian-owned and operated online auto parts retailer, TDot Performance is focus on providing Canadians with parts that might otherwise have to be purchased from the United States, saving them time and money — not to mention customs duties, brokerage fees, unfavourable exchange rates and other assorted headaches. That includes tires from big-name brands Canadians know and trust, like BFGoodrich and Michelin.
Winter Wheels
Mounting and dismounting tires from a single set of wheels is a chore, and one that can become expensive in short order. For that reason, many seasoned winter driving veterans keep an alternate set of “winter wheels” handy, so that when the seasons change, they can simply swap the wheels out, without the extra step of having to get everything mounted and balanced.
If you choose to go this route, make sure that you purchase wheels with the correct bolt pattern, offset and center bore for your vehicle. Large brakes like those found on many performance cars are also a concern; you’ll need wheels wide enough in diameter to leave adequate space for your vehicle’s brake calipers. Steel wheels are often favoured for winter driving for their ease of repair, although they tend to be heavier (and uglier) than alloy wheels — but again, the goal here is safety, not fashion.
Tire Sizing
This may sound obvious, but it’s an important step: once you have your wheels selected, you’ll need to make sure the new tires you’re shopping for will fit. Unfortunately, the standard way of expressing tire sizing can be confusing. For road tires, it most often begins with either a “P” for “Passenger” or “LT” for “Light Truck,” followed by the “section width” in millimetres, the height “aspect ratio” as a percentage, the letter “R” for “Radial” construction, and the diameter of the wheel, expressed in… inches. (Sorry, Canada.)
For example: if you see a tire with the alphanumeric code “P225/55R17” – it’s a Passenger tire with a section width of 225 mm, a height that is 55 percent of the section width, radial construction, and an inner diameter made to accommodate a 17-inch wheel.
Confused? Then we probably shouldn’t even mention flotation tire sizing – another standard, unique to off-road tires, that expresses sizing as the tire’s outer diameter, width, and wheel diameter, in that order, all in inches (e.g. 32×10.50R16).
Selecting the Right Tire
Finally, the most important part of any winter tire buyer’s guide: how to choose the best winter tires for your needs. Tires that exceed established winter performance requirements are denoted by a symbol on the sidewall showing a three-peak mountain with a snowflake. Generally, they fall between two extremes: ice tires and snow tires.
Ice tires tend to have close-set tread blocks with lots of incisions, and are made from compounds containing more silica, keeping them more flexible in frigid conditions, affording superior cold-weather traction. Tires like the well-known – and well-regarded – Michelin Ice-X Xi3 fit the mould.
Snow tires, conversely, tend to have farther-set tread blocks, allowing them to more effectively “scoop” their way through deep snow, similar to how off-road tires are designed to grab loose surfaces. Their compounds are generally firmer, giving them greater tread life at the expense of some cold-weather traction. Tires like the BFGoodrich Winter T/A KSI and the Uniroyal Tiger Paw Ice & Snow 3 fall closer to this end of the spectrum, although both BFGoodrich and Uniroyal have taken pains to ensure the tires’ respective compounds still have a decent mix of flexibility.
Which of these two extremes is more useful for you comes down to where you live, and the sort of conditions you anticipate driving in more often. Ice tires are generally aimed at those whose commutes favour city and highway driving – places where plowing is prompt, and constant traffic is more likely to melt the snow (so that it can later refreeze into a hazardous sheet of ice, naturally). Snow tires, meanwhile, are better suited to those who do most of their driving on lower-traffic roads or in more rural areas, where there’s a greater chance of snow piling up on the road — and remaining there until the plows and salt trucks finally make their way out.
And then there are high-performance winter tires – like the Michelin Alpin A4. This category is reserved for tires that sacrifice some amount of snow/ice grip in order to maintain superior dry road handling — a potential issue for winter tires — making them a sort of jack-of-all-trades. They tend to be most popular with sports car and muscle car owners who drive their performance vehicles year-round instead of letting them hibernate in a warm and toasty garage for the winter months.
In addition to those we’ve already mentioned, other top winter tire brands include Falken and Dick Cepek. But while each winter tire design is different, it’s hard to go wrong — especially if you’re coming from a set of generic, factory-installed all-season tires. Compared to those, any decent set of winter tires is going to provide far more safety, security and peace of mind when those crummy winter conditions inevitably hit.
If you’re ready to pull the trigger on some new tires for your winter ride, or just want to do more research on which sets might be right for you, the folks at TDotPerformance.ca can help. The company offers free shipping within Canada, a best price guarantee, 30-day no hassle returns, and a full warranty.
Buying Winter Tires: What Canadians Need to Know, 2020 - AutoGuide.com
Don't let winter stop you from getting where you need to go, and enjoying the drive. Here's a guide to selecting the right winter tires for your vehicle.
www.autoguide.com
2
Fiat Chrysler Cuts Shift at Minivan Plant, Site Loses 1,500 Jobs
Move aims to "align volumes with demand."
by Joseph Szczesny | Feb 28, 2020
FCA announced it is cutting the third shift at its Windsor, Ontario plant.
The decline in the sales of minivans is prompting Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. to cut 1,500 jobs at a Canadian assembly plant in Windsor, Ontario, across the river from Detroit by the end of June.
The move will trim production at the plant from three shifts to two, starting June 29, FCA said.
FCA said it notified Unifor, the union representing Canadian auto workers, of the decision as attempts to balance the plants daily production with the drop in demand for minivans now built in Windsor.
“This decision comes as the company works to align volumes with demand while phasing out production of the Dodge Grand Caravan at the end of May. The company will make every effort to place indefinitely laid-off hourly employees in open full-time positions as they become available based on seniority and will offer retirement packages to eligible employees,” FCA said in a statement.
The union, in a news release, predicted that the shift reduction would lead to “significant job loss in the parts supply chain, much of which is located on the other side of Detroit River in the United States, while also and the local economy in Ontario and the Canadian national economy.
“Unifor is very disappointed that FCA was unable to find a solution that would have avoided job losses,” Unifor National President Jerry Dias said in the release.
“There is no question that the economic ramifications will be felt across the region and throughout country,” he said.
David Cassidy, president of Unifor Local 444, which represents workers at the Windsor plant, said in a statement, “We worked to prevent this shift loss with the full understanding of the devastating affect that this would have on our membership.
“Now we will ensure that these workers receive the support that they need in this process as we continue to fight for new product for Windsor Assembly with the goal of preserving and increasing these good paying auto manufacturing jobs,” Cassidy said.
Fiat Chrysler is phasing out the Dodge Grand Caravan minivan in favor of just the Chrysler Pacifica.
The 4.4 million-square-foot plant currently employs 5,610 and 234 salaried workers on three shifts, according to FCA.
Earlier this month, FCA unveiled a new version of the Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid that will appear later this year to shore up FCA’s minivan sales, which have declined due to popularity of sport utility vehicles.
Tim Kuniskis, head of FCA’s global passenger cars in North America, who is in charge of the minivan business, said upgrading the Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid will shore up minivan sales. The Dodge Grand Caravan, which is based on the previous generation of the minivan, is now scheduled to disappear.
SOURCE
Move aims to "align volumes with demand."
by Joseph Szczesny | Feb 28, 2020
FCA announced it is cutting the third shift at its Windsor, Ontario plant.
The decline in the sales of minivans is prompting Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. to cut 1,500 jobs at a Canadian assembly plant in Windsor, Ontario, across the river from Detroit by the end of June.
The move will trim production at the plant from three shifts to two, starting June 29, FCA said.
FCA said it notified Unifor, the union representing Canadian auto workers, of the decision as attempts to balance the plants daily production with the drop in demand for minivans now built in Windsor.
“This decision comes as the company works to align volumes with demand while phasing out production of the Dodge Grand Caravan at the end of May. The company will make every effort to place indefinitely laid-off hourly employees in open full-time positions as they become available based on seniority and will offer retirement packages to eligible employees,” FCA said in a statement.
The union, in a news release, predicted that the shift reduction would lead to “significant job loss in the parts supply chain, much of which is located on the other side of Detroit River in the United States, while also and the local economy in Ontario and the Canadian national economy.
“Unifor is very disappointed that FCA was unable to find a solution that would have avoided job losses,” Unifor National President Jerry Dias said in the release.
“There is no question that the economic ramifications will be felt across the region and throughout country,” he said.
David Cassidy, president of Unifor Local 444, which represents workers at the Windsor plant, said in a statement, “We worked to prevent this shift loss with the full understanding of the devastating affect that this would have on our membership.
“Now we will ensure that these workers receive the support that they need in this process as we continue to fight for new product for Windsor Assembly with the goal of preserving and increasing these good paying auto manufacturing jobs,” Cassidy said.
Fiat Chrysler is phasing out the Dodge Grand Caravan minivan in favor of just the Chrysler Pacifica.
The 4.4 million-square-foot plant currently employs 5,610 and 234 salaried workers on three shifts, according to FCA.
Earlier this month, FCA unveiled a new version of the Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid that will appear later this year to shore up FCA’s minivan sales, which have declined due to popularity of sport utility vehicles.
Tim Kuniskis, head of FCA’s global passenger cars in North America, who is in charge of the minivan business, said upgrading the Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid will shore up minivan sales. The Dodge Grand Caravan, which is based on the previous generation of the minivan, is now scheduled to disappear.
SOURCE
FCA to offer buyouts at Ontario minivan plant, union says
05/29/2020
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles still plans to cut a shift at its minivan assembly plant in Windsor, Ont., and will begin offering hourly employees buyouts beginning Monday, according to the union.
In a pair of Facebook posts, Unifor Local 444 said the automaker still intends to axe the midnight shift on July 13 and that its members will have about 15 days to decide whether to accept a buyout.
“The third shift elimination of July 13 is still slated to go,” Unifor Local 444 President Dave Cassidy said in a post made Thursday.
Unifor apparently wanted to use the third shift as a bargaining chip during the next round of contract negotiations, scheduled to begin this fall.
“We have fought through that issue, offering many different avenues, with the hopes of stalling this decision until contract negotiations where we could hash this out over a strike deadline,” Cassidy wrote.
With FCA’s decision apparently final, executives from the union and automaker met Friday to discuss terms of the buyouts, Cassidy said in a second post.
“Executives met with the company’s Pension Dept. in regards to the buy-out packages,” he said in a separate post Friday. “Buy-out [sic] packages will be offered on Monday, June 1st. Eligible Retiring Members have until 8 am on June 15 to make that decision.”
In a recent interview, Cassidy said the union has been pressing the automaker for new product to replace the Dodge Grand Caravan, which will cease production Aug. 22.
FCA Canada didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment Friday.
The automaker has been attempting to end production on the third shift for nearly a year, but continues to change the end date.
About 6,500 workers build the Chrysler Pacifica and Voyager and Grand Caravan in Windsor. When the third shift ends, about 1,500 will lose their jobs.
Canadian Pacifica sales fell 38 per cent to 3,731 in 2019. Grand Caravan sales in Canada were down 15 per cent to 27,362 last year.
In the United States, sales totalled 97,705 for the Pacifica in 2019, a 17-per-cent drop from the previous year. Caravan sales also fell, down 19 per cent to 122,648 units.
The Chrysler Voyager isn’t sold in Canada at the moment, but it is available in the United States.
canada.autonews.com
05/29/2020
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles still plans to cut a shift at its minivan assembly plant in Windsor, Ont., and will begin offering hourly employees buyouts beginning Monday, according to the union.
In a pair of Facebook posts, Unifor Local 444 said the automaker still intends to axe the midnight shift on July 13 and that its members will have about 15 days to decide whether to accept a buyout.
“The third shift elimination of July 13 is still slated to go,” Unifor Local 444 President Dave Cassidy said in a post made Thursday.
Unifor apparently wanted to use the third shift as a bargaining chip during the next round of contract negotiations, scheduled to begin this fall.
“We have fought through that issue, offering many different avenues, with the hopes of stalling this decision until contract negotiations where we could hash this out over a strike deadline,” Cassidy wrote.
With FCA’s decision apparently final, executives from the union and automaker met Friday to discuss terms of the buyouts, Cassidy said in a second post.
“Executives met with the company’s Pension Dept. in regards to the buy-out packages,” he said in a separate post Friday. “Buy-out [sic] packages will be offered on Monday, June 1st. Eligible Retiring Members have until 8 am on June 15 to make that decision.”
In a recent interview, Cassidy said the union has been pressing the automaker for new product to replace the Dodge Grand Caravan, which will cease production Aug. 22.
FCA Canada didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment Friday.
The automaker has been attempting to end production on the third shift for nearly a year, but continues to change the end date.
About 6,500 workers build the Chrysler Pacifica and Voyager and Grand Caravan in Windsor. When the third shift ends, about 1,500 will lose their jobs.
Canadian Pacifica sales fell 38 per cent to 3,731 in 2019. Grand Caravan sales in Canada were down 15 per cent to 27,362 last year.
In the United States, sales totalled 97,705 for the Pacifica in 2019, a 17-per-cent drop from the previous year. Caravan sales also fell, down 19 per cent to 122,648 units.
The Chrysler Voyager isn’t sold in Canada at the moment, but it is available in the United States.
FCA to offer buyouts at Ontario minivan plant
In a recent interview, Cassidy said the union has been pressing the automaker for new product to replace the Dodge Grand Caravan, which will cease production Aug. 22.
canada.autonews.com
2
FCA announces next-generation Chrysler Grand Caravan
It is to be produced exclusively for the Canadian market
Jul 16, 2020
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A minivan with a familiar name will start rolling off the assembly line in Windsor in a few weeks.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) will start producing the Chrysler Grand Caravan destined for the Canadian market in the fall.
FCA has had to discontinue the Dodge Grand Caravan because it wouldn't be able to meet tougher new emission standards. The new Chrysler Grand Caravan will meet the standards.
FCA describes the van as "designed with budget-friendly family customers in mind," but with a sticker price of just under $38,000, the base model of the Grand Caravan — built on the same platform as the Pacifica — is the same price as the base model of the Pacifica.
The new Ghrysler Grand Caravan is basically the same vehicle as the Chrysler Voyager that is built for the American market.
"So the question now is what is different between the two, other than the name?" queries Greg Layson, digital and mobile editor with Automotive News Canada.
FCA spokesperson LouAnn Gosselin points out the Grand Caravan SXT, which is one step up from the base model, is actually $3,950 less than the Dodge Grand Caravan trim package it is replacing.
In order to keep the price point down, the new Grand Caravan will not have Stow N' Go seats in the second row of seating, only in the third row. The base model will have a bench seat and the SXT will feature removable bucket seats. Gosselin says Stow N' Go seats in the second row will be available as an option for an extra $2,000.
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The new Chrysler Grand Caravan will come in either a base model or an SXT trim package
Layson thinks FCA made the right choice continuing with the popular Grand Caravan.
"Last year alone, the Caravan sold 32,000 [units] and that was more than double the Toyota Sienna," said Layson. "So it makes sense for them to keep it."
The Grand Caravan is basically the same as the Voyager which has been available in the U.S. for a year. Layson said he recently observed quite a few of them on the road in Florida.
He points out, however, this development will not bring more jobs to the FCA Windsor Assembly Plant.
The Grand Caravan will go into production sometime this summer. An exact date was not announced.
It is to be produced exclusively for the Canadian market
Jul 16, 2020
A minivan with a familiar name will start rolling off the assembly line in Windsor in a few weeks.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) will start producing the Chrysler Grand Caravan destined for the Canadian market in the fall.
FCA has had to discontinue the Dodge Grand Caravan because it wouldn't be able to meet tougher new emission standards. The new Chrysler Grand Caravan will meet the standards.
FCA describes the van as "designed with budget-friendly family customers in mind," but with a sticker price of just under $38,000, the base model of the Grand Caravan — built on the same platform as the Pacifica — is the same price as the base model of the Pacifica.
The new Ghrysler Grand Caravan is basically the same vehicle as the Chrysler Voyager that is built for the American market.
"So the question now is what is different between the two, other than the name?" queries Greg Layson, digital and mobile editor with Automotive News Canada.
FCA spokesperson LouAnn Gosselin points out the Grand Caravan SXT, which is one step up from the base model, is actually $3,950 less than the Dodge Grand Caravan trim package it is replacing.
In order to keep the price point down, the new Grand Caravan will not have Stow N' Go seats in the second row of seating, only in the third row. The base model will have a bench seat and the SXT will feature removable bucket seats. Gosselin says Stow N' Go seats in the second row will be available as an option for an extra $2,000.
The new Chrysler Grand Caravan will come in either a base model or an SXT trim package
Layson thinks FCA made the right choice continuing with the popular Grand Caravan.
"Last year alone, the Caravan sold 32,000 [units] and that was more than double the Toyota Sienna," said Layson. "So it makes sense for them to keep it."
The Grand Caravan is basically the same as the Voyager which has been available in the U.S. for a year. Layson said he recently observed quite a few of them on the road in Florida.
He points out, however, this development will not bring more jobs to the FCA Windsor Assembly Plant.
The Grand Caravan will go into production sometime this summer. An exact date was not announced.
3
Last Dodge Grand Caravan Rolls Off the Assembly Line
August 23, 2020
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The Grand Caravan is dead, long live the Grand Caravan.
A bittersweet moment, said Unifor Local 444 President Dave Cassidy. “You could put a piece of plywood in there. You could pile six kids in there. It’s a wonderful vehicle and to finish the Caravan off like that, it’s a sad day at Windsor Assembly.”
The final Dodge Grand Caravan built is a Canadian-spec GT trim. | Photo: Unifor Local 444
Ironically, the Dodge Grand Caravan is the best-selling minivan in Canada in the United States, proving that even though the outgoing-generation was long in the tooth, it still served a purpose for hauling the family on a budget.
On the other hand, minivan sales are slowing decreasing year after year, as consumers have been flocking to crossovers and SUVs for some time now. Although minivans like the Dodge Grand Caravan, but also the Chrysler Pacifica, the Honda Odyssey and the Kia Sedona, offer much more cargo space and versatility than any large SUV would, but it seems as though many parents are willing to sacrifice interior space for a trendier vehicle.
Last Dodge Grand Caravan Rolls Off the Assembly Line - Motor Illustrated
August 23, 2020
The Grand Caravan is dead, long live the Grand Caravan.
- The last Dodge Grand Caravan has been produced at FCA’s Windsor Assembly Plant.
- The final unit, a white Grand Caravan GT, is earmarked for the Canadian market.
- Production of the Chrysler Grand Caravan will soon begin, which is the Canadian counterpart of the U.S.-only Chrysler Voyager.
A bittersweet moment, said Unifor Local 444 President Dave Cassidy. “You could put a piece of plywood in there. You could pile six kids in there. It’s a wonderful vehicle and to finish the Caravan off like that, it’s a sad day at Windsor Assembly.”
The final Dodge Grand Caravan built is a Canadian-spec GT trim. | Photo: Unifor Local 444Ironically, the Dodge Grand Caravan is the best-selling minivan in Canada in the United States, proving that even though the outgoing-generation was long in the tooth, it still served a purpose for hauling the family on a budget.
On the other hand, minivan sales are slowing decreasing year after year, as consumers have been flocking to crossovers and SUVs for some time now. Although minivans like the Dodge Grand Caravan, but also the Chrysler Pacifica, the Honda Odyssey and the Kia Sedona, offer much more cargo space and versatility than any large SUV would, but it seems as though many parents are willing to sacrifice interior space for a trendier vehicle.
Last Dodge Grand Caravan Rolls Off the Assembly Line - Motor Illustrated
Windsor Assembly Plant to begin three-week shutdown next week
Sep 22, 2020
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Canada confirmed Monday the Windsor Assembly Plant will be shut down for three weeks beginning next week.
The plant builds the Pacifica and the Grand Caravan.
“The Windsor Assembly Plant is planning to adjust its upcoming production schedule to better align with market demand,” said FCA Canada’s head of communications Lou Ann Gosselin.
“This includes scheduling downtime from Sept. 28 through Oct. 16. Normal shift schedules are expected to resume the week of Oct. 19.
“As always, production schedules are subject to change.”
The shutdown announcement comes after FCA scheduled Saturday shifts in each of the past two weekends.
However, the periodic pattern of shutdowns continues this year as minivan sales have sagged. Those lagging sales led to the elimination of the plant’s third shift in July after 27 years of continuous operation.
Finding a second product for the plant and the return of the third shift are priorities for Unifor Local 444 in current contract negotiations with FCA.
windsorstar.com
Sep 22, 2020
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Canada confirmed Monday the Windsor Assembly Plant will be shut down for three weeks beginning next week.
The plant builds the Pacifica and the Grand Caravan.
“The Windsor Assembly Plant is planning to adjust its upcoming production schedule to better align with market demand,” said FCA Canada’s head of communications Lou Ann Gosselin.
“This includes scheduling downtime from Sept. 28 through Oct. 16. Normal shift schedules are expected to resume the week of Oct. 19.
“As always, production schedules are subject to change.”
The shutdown announcement comes after FCA scheduled Saturday shifts in each of the past two weekends.
However, the periodic pattern of shutdowns continues this year as minivan sales have sagged. Those lagging sales led to the elimination of the plant’s third shift in July after 27 years of continuous operation.
Finding a second product for the plant and the return of the third shift are priorities for Unifor Local 444 in current contract negotiations with FCA.
Windsor Assembly Plant to begin three-week shutdown next week
Layoffs begin Sept. 28 with production restarting Oct. 19
windsorstar.com
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