Chrysler to Idle 3 Plants Earlier Than Normal Due to Parts Shortage

With the exception of General Motors' Shreveport, Louisiana plant and the loss of some paint colors, North American carmakers have not been affected by the full brunt of parts shortages due to the March 11th earthquake and Tsunami that devastated Japan. That’s all about to change for Chrysler, who will idle three plants in order to conserve parts.

We’re talking about Chrysler's Warren Truck plant, which builds the Ram 1500 and Dakota, and Toledo North, which builds the Jeep Liberty and Dodge Nitro, which will both shut down completely for the weeks of June 20 and June 27. The original plan was for the two facilities to go idle for the weeks of July 11 and July 18, as part of the summer shutdown. The Toledo Supplier Park, which builds the Jeep Wrangler, will shut down for the week of June 20 instead of the week of July 11.

"In order to conserve parts from suppliers impacted by the situation in Japan, Chrysler Group is adjusting the previously scheduled summer shutdown period," Chrysler spokeswoman Jodi Tinson said in an e-mail response to the Detroit Free Press.

A fourth Chrysler facility in Saltillo, Mexico, which builds Rams from 1500 through to the heavy-duty 5500, will also renounce overtime on May 20, May 27, June 10 and June 24, and is canceling its week of downtime previously scheduled for July 11.

At the moment, it is not clear how the automotive giant will be affected by parts shortages, but Chrysler has a stable supply of vehicles. The company has stated that its other plants will have their normal summer shutdowns in July and August.