Chrysler van factory idled

Part shortage blamed in Windsor shutdown

Detroit Free Press
BY GREG GARDNER
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER

Chrysler will stop making minivans at its Windsor assembly plant for about a week, beginning Monday, because of an unspecified parts shortage the automaker expects to resolve in time to resume production Feb. 1.
The company would not identify the part or the supplier that is causing the disruption. A statement attributed the one-week shutdown to "continued stress in the automotive supply chain."
Rick Laporte, president of Canadian Auto Workers Local 444, said the plant will stop because of a shortage of a plastic part for the key fob. Production at the plant had resumed this past Monday after a four-week extended holiday shutdown. …
Chrysler dealers in the U.S. had more than a month's supply of Dodge Caravans and 55 days' worth of the Chrysler Town & Country. Most automakers regard 60-days' supply to be adequate.
Chrysler workers in Windsor also produce the Volkswagen Routan minivan.
"There should not be any lost sales, but the vehicles we don't build next week will have to be made up in coming weeks," Laporte said. …