Chrysler marks reopening of South plant (the new van will be exported to more than 100 countries)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/stories.nsf/manufacturingtechnology/story/11E67EB164FE172186257359000AE8BA?OpenDocument

By Christopher Boyce

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
09/17/2007

Chrysler LLC and several dozen local employees held a ceremony Sunday to celebrate the end of a project that could secure thousands of jobs for years to come.

Company officials announced the reopening of the South assembly plant, which closed in May as part of Chrysler's $500 million retooling investment. The project, originally announced in December 2005, will improve efficiency by making the facility capable of assembling multiple vehicles of similar character without having to shut down to adjust the assembly line.

The new assembly line, known as a flexible manufacturing line, will assemble the redesigned 2008 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans.

The minivans — which are also assembled in Windsor, Ontario — began arriving in showrooms across the country in late August. Chrysler is hoping to breathe life into the U.S. minivan market with its redesign, as annual new sales for the segment have fallen below 800,000 units after consistently attracting more than 1 million sales annually in the mid- to late-1990s, according to data from auto researcher CSM Worldwide Inc.

The announcement was made by South plant manager Tyree Minner during the second annual Chrysler Cruz'n classic car show, held on the front lawn at the south plant in Fenton. Auto enthusiasts displayed about 190 vehicles.

Minner told attendees the new van would be exported to more than 100 countries, as it is produced in both left-hand and right-hand drive. He said the plant is now "the minivan gateway to the world."

FULL story at link.