(WWJ) There will be no traditional summer shutdown this year at several Fiat-Chrysler plants.
For the most part, WWJ Auto Beat Reporter Jeff Gilbert said, these are plants that make pickup trucks and SUVs — vehicles that are in short supply following plant closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the metro Detroit area, Gilbert reported that the decision by FCA affects the Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit, the Sterling Heights Assembly Plant, and the Toledo Assembly complex. Other plants that won't shut down this summer are Brampton Ontario and Saltillo, Mexico.
Warren Truck, meanwhile, will have an extended shutdown from July to September as they convert it to build new Jeep products, Gilbert said.
Production at all Big 3 automotive plants in Michigan was halted for 10 weeks due to concerns about the spread of the coronavirus. When facilities got rolling again in mid-May, analysts expected it would take several weeks for plants to get up to speed.
"The whole industry's going to be down several million units, even in the best scenario possible," WWJ Auto Analyst John McElroy said.
Gilbert said other carmakers have also canceled summer shutdowns at some plants to make up for lost time.