Chrysler Moving Michigan Plant to Russia

6 news wlns.com ^ | Apr 17, 2006 | wlns.com

[vertolet]

Another auto plant is closing in Michigan. This time it's a Chrysler assembly line moving to, of all places, Russia. A Russian automaker says it's buying the Sterling Heights assembly line from Daimler Chrysler. That line builds the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Stratus. The company will now produce the cars in Russia under license from the German-American automaker.

[F.J. Mitchell]

Lol! I have never earned one cent from my exceptionally brilliant ancedotes, but being the absolutely honest and modest critter that I am. I have no choice but to answer: "Yeah...I am."

[F.J. Mitchell]

Chrysler has been on the cutting edge of extinction, more times than I can count, during my seven plus decades of life upon this planet and were always rescued from their own stupidity by the American tax-payers.

The Chrysler Cooperation rewarded the American Tax-payers some time ago, by selling out to Mercedes and now comes the final insult as they sell their souls to Russia.

Okay, let them sell their vehicles to those who build them, just as American's purchase and drive automobiles built by Americans.

[Iris7]

I understood the "American corporation" stuff to be an attempt to forstall Kirk Kerkorian. Perhaps not.

Or perhaps so. One might ask Mr. Kerkorian his opinion.

The "merger" documents are likely to be what one would expect when many excellent lawyers and many millions of dollars have produced them. A dazzling intricacy of interlocking parts.

I do wish the best for you at Chrysler.

Juergen Schremp is being talked about as Rick Wagoner's successor. I hear that Mr. Schremp is actually a third rate man, arbitrary and mean spirited (unlike Wolfgang Bernhard and Dieter Zietche).

I like the Tomahawk a great deal. One hears that Mr. Bernhard wanted it in production. I think it would have been a masterstroke.

Any word on the ME 412? Or are we seeing another stillborn masterpiece?

[AngelesCrestHighway]

And the auto workers union put another nail in the coffin....

[ExGeeEye]

The assembly line equipment for an older line of vehicles is, indeed, being moved to Russia. New equipment is being brought in, and the plant will continue to produce updated Chryslers.

[sit-rep]

Diamler bought out Chrysler years ago...Oh, indeed they called it a merger, but we all new that was BS when it happened!

[snowsislander]

...the company has been hiring Smart Manufacturing troubleshooters from Toyota...

That's a good move, I think.

It is my opinion that GM should be trying to hire management from Toyota.

[AlexW]

"GM is the next set of cooperate idiots to sell this country down the river."

I think you should take your complaints to the UAW.
They are the ones that destroy the auto industry in the US.

[ExGeeEye]

This post has half the story. See the rest here.

[shekkian]

So now they're going to make them into high-priced Ladas?

[DustyMoment]

The last few Chrysler vehicles I owned were about as dependable and durable as a Yugo.

My last Chrysler product was a 1977 Dodge Aspen. Dumped that POC ASAP and have never looked back. The sooner that Chrysler folds up their tents and moves their circus somewhere else, the better.

IMO, Chrysler and the Russians deserve each other.

[Roccus]

Actually, the gov't. only guaranteed the loans. The US even made money on those guarantees.

[DustyMoment]

I have worked for Chrysler for the last 11 years.

I was raised in a Chrysler family. My dad bought nothing but (and I think the world of my dad and his decisions). However, the incompetent people at Chrysler managed to put me off of ever buying another Chrysler again. When I complained directly to the factory "customer service" people about maintenance problems I had with my last Chrysler product (and, I DO mean LAST), their brilliant response was "What do you want me to do about it?"

Trust me, that was all they needed to do about it. I have never (and never will again) purchased another Chrysler product. Chrysler Crap is exactly what it is and what it always was.

"You may want to get your facts straight before" you proceed to lecture the rest of us on the wonders of the crap Chrysler puts on the road.

[RightOnline]

That's good to hear, but face it......Chrysler may have some gutsy designs, but their well-deserved rep for shoddy quality is a major hindrance to them gaining market share.

It would take one HELL of a lot for me to ever even consider buying a Chrysler product again based on my own past experiences and those of many of my acquaintances.

[RusIvan]

I just hope this doesn't piss off Russia to such a degree that they launch their entire nuclear arsenal at us. But if they did, my last dying thoughts would be,"forgive them Lord. They only do what we would do, under similar circumstances."
===

:)))) Funny:)).

[Muleteam1]

I'm not a Chrysler fan but it is only one assembly line that is being moved out of the country. Studebaker moved its entire production to Canada before they became extinct. The American auto industry has been trudging its way to the tar pits since the 1970s. America seems bored with automobile production anymore.

[njmaugbill]

"Ping. Another mistake by a US company."

Au contraire - Daimler-Chrysler is a German company......

[GarySpFc]

Russian wages are less than China's wages.

That is not quite true. Go to the CIA World Fact Book and you will see the GDP Per Capita for China is only $6,300, whereas for Russia it is $10,700. The Russians have many benefits which are not included in their wages.

[GarySpFc]

The Russian manufacter purchased the assembly line. What is so very wrong with American products being sold to Russia?

The majority on this thread are also overlooking the fact that American auto manufactuers are producing cars in Russia, and are making very good profits and products. It appears some of you do not REALLY believe in capitalism.

Ford Increases Capacity of St. Petersburg Facility

Ford will boost the the plant's annual capacity from the current 40,000 vehicles to 60,000 vehicles by January 2006. The St. Petersburg facility, launched in July 2002, recently started production of the new generation Ford Focus, Ford's top-selling vehicle in Europe. The Focus is also produced in Valencia, Spain and Saarlouis, Germany.