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February 08, 2006


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Chrysler Group Celebrates Manufacturing Launch of All-New 2007 Dodge Caliber

  • Innovative manufacturing processes are being implemented

  • Plant will incorporate a new workplace organization model for employees

  • New models and second shift will be added this year

  • Dodge Caliber: Crossover features, bold styling, affordable power

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - The Chrysler Group today marked the start of production of the all-new 2007 Dodge Caliber at its Belvidere (Ill.) Assembly Plant. Along with the new vehicle, the plant also is launching an innovative manufacturing process that will provide the company the ability to make up to three models and test build a fourth model on one assembly line.

Joining in the event today were Tom LaSorda, Chrysler Group President and CEO; Frank Ewasyshyn, Chrysler Group Executive Vice President of Manufacturing; Nate Gooden, UAW Vice President and Member of the Supervisory Board of DaimlerChrysler; Rod Blagojevich, Governor of Illinois, along with other guests and approximately 1,650 plant employees.

 

 

 

The Dodge Caliber's crossover design and bold styling coupled with innovative features and affordable power allows owners to be active, do more and stand out.


Photos: Chrysler

"Starting with the manufacturing launch of the 2007 Dodge Caliber, the Chrysler Group has an onslaught of great new products coming to the market this year -- 10, a new company record," said LaSorda. "This plant shows that we are implementing innovative solutions to compete in this fiercely competitive global market."

The Belvidere Assembly Plant is the first Chrysler Group manufacturing plant to use a body shop that is comprised entirely of robotics and free of vehicle-specific heavy tooling. The 780 new robots in Belvidere's body shop can make necessary tool changes automatically, within a 45-second cycle time, giving the plant the flexibility to build the Dodge Caliber and three additional vehicles with no negative impact on production. This new process will both allow the company to vary production to better meet customers' preferences and make the change-over to next-generation models simple and cost-efficient.

The new flexible robotic body shop, already partially in place at other plants, will be fully implemented next at the Chrysler Group's Sterling Heights (Mich.) Assembly Plant and St. Louis South (Fenton, Mo.) Assembly Plant.

In addition to the recent launch of the Dodge Caliber, the Belvidere Assembly Plant also will launch a second shift next month, bringing total employment at the facility to approximately 2,650, and will launch the production of another new model, the all-new 2007 Jeep(R) Compass, later this year.

The Chrysler Group cooperated with the union as well as state and local government to help make the new investment possible.

The Dodge Caliber will be available in close to 100 markets world-wide.

(Feb. 1, 2006)

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