[Thunder90]

GM is the next set of cooperate idiots to sell this country down the river. We should NOT be putting production plants into countries that represent near term threats, and Russia certainly qualifies.

[restornu]

Thank you Chrysler, for taking US welfare from US Citizens in the 80's, only to take your A$$ to Russia

[F.J. Mitchell]

That move is soooooo damn appropriate. The last few Chrysler vehicles I owned were about as dependable and durable as a Yugo.

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."

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

I just noticed Dodge stopped selling the Intrepid, since what, 2004? Another incompetant mistake by Detroit - taking once-popular models, neglecting them, and tossing them aside and replacing them with nothing at all, ala Ford Taurus. Idiots. You'll never see Toyota or Honda do that with the Camry/Accord.

[Lorianne]

Oh, cool. Can't wait to see the sequel to Roger and Me on this one.

[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.

[shekkian]

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

[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.

[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.

[Centurion2000]

Any word on what city they plan to open it in?

[Centurion2000]

Something that people here seem to forget at times. Get the rest of the story. GAZ (russian company) apparently is pyaing quite well for this plant to the tune of 150 million dollars. They are buying the technology and moving it to Nizhny Novgorod.

Staff Writer

Shawn Baldwin / Bloomberg

The Sebring model is to be restyled and adapted to suit the Russian market.

GAZ, the country's second-largest automotive firm, said Friday that it planned to invest a total of $150 million over the next two years in two new cars, based on older-generation Chrysler models.

The company, which is best known for its Volga sedan, will buy licenses and equipment to produce Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Stratus sedans under its own brand in Russia, GAZ said.

The investment comes weeks after GAZ said it would invest up to $250 million annually over the next five years to develop new models and train its work force.

It declined on Friday to say how much of the $150 million investment would be paid to Chrysler, which is now working on new versions of both the Sebring and Stratus models.

Under the deal, GAZ, which is part of billionaire Oleg Deripaska's empire, will transfer older manufacturing equipment from Chrysler's Sterling Heights, Michigan, plant to Nizhny Novgorod, where the Volga is made.

GAZ also plans to buy engines from Chrysler's engine plant in Saltillo, Mexico, GAZ said in a statement.

The first cars based on the Chrysler technology are expected to roll off the production line at the end of 2007 or in early 2008, Erik Eberhardson, vice president and chief strategy officer at GAZ, said by telephone Friday.

.....

"The models will be restyled and adapted to Russian roads," Eberhardson said. The company has not yet decided what the new models will be called, he said.

Which means these cars are being produced for the Russian market (and will need some serious suspensions ... russian roads do not bear thinking about)

[Ciexyz]

Aaaagh! I'm the owner of a Dodge Stratus! This is frakkin' unbelievable.

[Old Professer]

Do you suppose it will compete with this:

[YourAdHere]

Great. Another "documentary" for Michael Moore to make.

[stumpy]

I once owned a Chrysler product....NEVER AGAIN. It was the worst piece of junk I ever encountered.

[BooksForTheRight.com]

Soon there will be no US makes of cars.