Jul 03, 2008 (Datamonitor via COMTEX) -- ZZFVL | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- In response to declining demand and sales for minivans and pickups, Chrysler is likely to close its St Louis, Missouri minivan production plant and eliminate a shift at an assembly plant that manufactures the Dodge Ram pickup truck.

The St Louis manufacturing facility manufactures the Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country vehicles. Slowing economy, increased gasoline prices and a shift in consumer demand from large vehicles to smaller ones are stated as the main reasons for the sales... // Trading Markets

The worsening U. S. auto sales slump hit Chrysler LLC again Monday as it announced plans to close one St. Louis-area factory and cut a shift from another because of declining demand for minivans and pickups.

Officials with the Auburn Hills-based automaker said in a conference call that it will shutter the St. Louis South plant, which makes minivans, effective Oct. 31. The St. Louis North plant, which makes full-size pickups, will be cut from... // St. Catharines Standard

Rumours of Chryslerâs financial malaise have been added credence with their announcement of the closure of another production facility.

Chrysler has seen its domestic sales drop by 19%, and subsequently the decision to âindefinitely idleâ the St. Louis facility is hardly surprising.

The manufacturing plants, located in Fenton, Missouri, are home to the Dodge Ram (1500 and 2500) Standard and Quad Cab Pickup (North), and the Chrysler Town the... // Wheels24.co.za

TopNews (Enlarge photo)

Chrysler has decided to close its plants as the U.S. sales tumbled and caused the company an operating loss of about $300 million in the first four months of the year, less than projected by owner Cerberus Capital Management LP.

According to the report, presented at a June 12 meeting of the private-equity firm's financiers, Cerberus had forecast a deficit of about $700 million.

The analysis was followed, today, by the announcement of the closure of its St. Louis minivan plant. This announcement may be good news for company's van plant in Windsor, Ontario, although it underlines the long-term uncertainty of the van segment, said an analyst on Monday. 

âI think for now the... // TopNews

Chrysler will close a US minivan assembly plant and cut one of two shifts at a pick-up truck plant in the latest move by carmakers to adjust their North American capacity to meet new demand for more fuel-efficient cars and crossover vehicles.

The cutbacks will result in 2,400 job losses at the plants, both in St Louis. Chrysler, the smallest of the three Detroit carmakers, has already shrunk its workforce from 77,500 to 65,800 since Cerberus... // Financial Times

DETROIT - Chrysler LLC said Monday it will indefinitely close one Missouri plant and cut production at another due to slumping demand for pickup trucks and minivans.

Officials with the Auburn Hills-based automaker said in a conference call that it will shutter the St. Louis South plant, which makes minivans, effective Oct. 31. The St. Louis North plant, which makes full-size pickups, will be cut from two shifts to one effective Sept. 2.

Chrysler said the moves would affect 2,400 jobs. That includes 1,500 at the minivan plant and another 900 at the pickup truck plant, which both are in Fenton, a St. Louis suburb.

Chrysler President and Vice Chairman Tom LaSorda said the company has no plans to reopen the minivan plant.

"We see no need for the capacity in the future," he said,... // Pasadena Star-News

FENTON, Mo. -- People in this St. Louis suburb have conditioned themselves to accept bad news about the city's Chrysler plant, which has suffered its share of job cuts in recent years as gas prices have risen and auto sales have sagged. But even against that gloomy backdrop, residents were still shocked on Tuesday, a day after learning that one plant will close and other will see production slashed. "You could just sit down and cry over this," said resident Shirley Mize. "I think somewhere along the line, they thought this was going to happen. But I didn't think it was going to happen this soon." Officials with the Auburn Hills, Mich.-based automaker said Monday the company will close its South plant here, which makes minivans, effective Oct. 31. The North plant, which makes full-size... // WOOD-TV

TruckTrend Magazine (Enlarge photo)

St. Louis South currently employs 1500 workers and builds the Chrysler Town and Country, Dodge Grand Caravan, and Chrysler Grand Voyager for the European market. The consumer shift away from gas-guzzling vehicles, though primarily affecting SUVs, is hurting the automaker's signature minivans, too -- sales of the Town and Country are down 13.4 percent for the year, while the Grand Caravan has dropped by a full 34.6 percent. Because of this, Chrysler will idle St. Louis South indefinitely starting October 31st, and exclusively rely on its Windsor, Ontario plant for minivan production. In addition to Chrysler's family haulers, Windsor also builds the joint-venture Volkswagen Routan. As for whether the facility may reopen when sales improve, Chrysler co-president Tom LaSorda isn't optimistic,... // TruckTrend Magazine

Chrysler LLC said Monday it will close one Missouri plant indefinitely this fall and cut production at another due to slumping demand for trucks and other large vehicles.

Officials with the Auburn Hills-based automaker said in a conference call that it will shutter the St. Louis South plant, which makes minivans, effective Oct. 31. The St. Louis North plant, which makes full-size pickup trucks, will reduce operations from two shifts to one.

Chrysler said the moves would affect 2,400 jobs. That includes 1,500 at the minivan plant and another 900 at the pickup truck plant.

Chrysler President and Vice Chairman Tom LaSorda said the company has no plans to reopen the minivan plant. He added demand for minivans can be handled by three shifts, so the company has no need to operate two... // Washington Times

FENTON, Mo. | People in this St. Louis suburb have conditioned themselves to accept bad news about the city's Chrysler plant, which has suffered its share of job cuts in recent years as gas prices have risen and auto sales have sagged.

But even against that gloomy backdrop, residents were still shocked on Tuesday, a day after learning that one plant will close and other will see production slashed.

"You could just sit down and cry over this," said resident Shirley Mize. "I think somewhere along the line, they thought this was going to happen. But I didn't think it was going to happen this soon."

Officials with the Auburn Hills, Mich.-based automaker said Monday the company will close its South plant here, which makes minivans, effective Oct. 31. The North plant, which makes full-size... // Kansas City Star

People in this St. Louis suburb have conditioned themselves to accept bad news about the city's Chrysler plant, which has suffered its share of job cuts in recent years as gas prices have risen and auto sales have sagged.

But even against that gloomy backdrop, residents were still shocked on Tuesday, a day after learning that one plant will close and other will see production slashed.

"You could just sit down and cry over this," said resident Shirley Mize. "I think somewhere along the line, they thought this was going to happen. But I didn't think it was going to happen this soon."

Officials with the Auburn Hills, Mich.-based automaker said Monday the company will close its South plant here, which makes minivans, effective Oct. 31. The North plant, which makes full-size pickups, will... // BusinessWeek

FENTON, Mo. (AP) - People in this St. Louis suburb have conditioned themselves to accept bad news about the city's Chrysler plant, which has suffered its share of job cuts in recent years as gas prices have risen and auto sales have sagged.

But even against that gloomy backdrop, residents were still shocked on Tuesday, a day after learning that one plant will close and other will see production slashed.

"You could just sit down and cry over this," said resident Shirley Mize. "I think somewhere along the line, they thought this was going to happen. But I didn't think it was going to happen this soon."

Officials with the Auburn Hills, Mich.-based automaker said Monday the company will close its South plant here, which makes minivans, effective Oct. 31. The North plant, which makes... // MSN Money

BloggingStocks (Enlarge photo)

Once upon a time, the minivan saved Chrysler. In 1984, the company introduced this new type of vehicle which went on to sell by the millions, helping Chrysler emerge from near bankruptcy.

But now Chrysler finds itself with too much production capacity for all kinds of large vehicles, including minivans. Today, the automaker announced that it will close one of its two minivan plants. The St. Louis South plant in Fenton, Mo., will close within the next four months; approximately 2,400 workers will lose their jobs. Minivan production will continue in Windsor, Ontario. Chrysler also announced that it will also produce fewer units of its 2009 Dodge Ram pickup... // BloggingStocks

Chrysler LLC plans to close its St. Louis South assembly plant indefinitely, effective Oct. 31, and reduce operations at its St. Louis North assembly plant from two shifts to one as of Sept. 2.

Both of the plants are located in Fenton, Mo., in St. Louis County. Fenton Mayor Dennis Hancock confirmed the news Monday afternoon, shortly after Chrysler executives advised the city about the changes and a report appeared in the Wall Street Journal.

Hancock said that Chrysler officials told him the shutdowns were due to the slowdown in the market, and that the moves will affect a total of 2,400 employees.

The St. Louis South plant makes the Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans, which are also produced at a plant in Windsor, Ontario.

Chrysler had announced in February 2007 it... // Charlotte Business Journal

DETROIT -- Chrysler LLC will cut production at two Missouri factories, including shutting down a minivan plant, as the automaker tries to adjust to plunging U.S. sales, the company announced Monday.

The Auburn Hills, Mich., automaker also has made plans to extend summer shutdowns at many of its assembly plants.

On Tuesday, the company is to announce June sales results, expected by analysts to be down around 30 percent compared with a year ago. So far this year, Chrysler's U.S. sales are down 19.3 percent, while industry-wide sales of cars and trucks are down 8.4 percent.

Customers' shift to fuel-efficient cars because of high gasoline costs has been particularly difficult for Chrysler and its truck-heavy lineup.

"This environment forces us to make some very difficult decisions," said... // HispanicBusiness.com

DETROIT -- Chrysler's announcement Monday that it's closing a St. Louis minivan plant and cutting production at a St. Louis truck plant underscores the auto industry's rapid deterioration in the past few months.

June sales, due out today, are expected to show the bleeding hasn't slowed.

High gas prices and a weakened economy have battered U.S. vehicle sales, with big SUVs and pickups hit hardest.

But also under stress is the minivan market, which was... // RedOrbit

As they try to weather the current economic storm, automakers around the globe are cutting costs , raising prices , and laying off workers to maintain profitability. In particular the Detroit Three are struggling to stay afloat, with GM and Ford shutting down plants to avoid creating a glut of unsold vehicles. And now -- fresh off rumors that it filed for bankruptcy  -- Chrysler is joining its Detroit colleagues and will cut a shift at one... // MotorTrend Magazine

Chrysler President and Vice Chairman Tom LaSorda said the actions are in response to the U.S. auto sales slump and
declining demand for minivans and pickups. "The auto industry is going through some turbulent times -- a slow
economy, including mortgage crisis and the weak housing market,
escalating oil prices, and rapid consumer shifts from trucks and
SUVs to smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles," LaSorda said. "We
continue to meet and exceed our financial targets, and the company
is better positioned than it was last year. But this environment
forces us to make some very difficult decisions." LaSorda said the company has no plans to reopen the minivan... // NBC 10.com