Sterling Heights assembly line to be shipped to Russia (half-reported elsewhere)

AP ^ | 04/14/2006 | No Byline

[ExGeeEye]

MOSCOW - Russia's OAO GAZ automaker agreed to buy DaimlerChrysler AG production lines in Sterling Heights and move them to Russia, where it will produce DaimlerChrysler cars under license.

(snip)

The Sterling Heights plant will get new equipment to build the company's next generation Sebring and Stratus, the Chrysler Group said, and will have the ability to produce a second, small-vehicle line as well.

(snip)

The Sterling Heights plant still is building cars and likely will wrap up production in May, Chrysler spokesman David Elshoff said Friday. The company hasn't announced a date for when it will reopen with the new equipment.

[ExGeeEye]

Half-reported here implying permanent closure, loss of jobs, etc. This change results from redesign of the vehicles and of assembly practices, so different that merely modifying the assembly equipment (as happens at least annually) is insufficient.

[visualops]

The article is very poorly written. One could conclude that the plant is closing and moving to Russia, but upon closer reading perhaps it's the current equipment that is moving to Russia to produce other Chrysler cars, while the Sterling plant is getting new equipment to produce the next-gen of Sebring and Stratus:
Last year, DaimlerChrysler announced it was investing $278 million in the Sterling Heights plant, which employs about 2,400, for a flexible manufacturing operation to build vehicles in a leaner, more cost-effective way.
However, this line makes one wonder what happens to employees during the transition: The company hasn't announced a date for when it will reopen with the new equipment.

[G-Man 1]

Post #2 tag line we don't need any more legal immigration of any kind for the next 50 years. Let the country assimilate what we already have.

[grearjammer]

From what I read in the article, Chrysler is selling the equipment in the plant and sending it was bought by investors in Russia. Then Chrysler will be installing New machines in the Michigan plant and making more modern cars. I seems every one has the idea the plant is shutting down and moving. In my opinion this will be a plus for Michigan because instead of revamping the old machines every year they will be all modernizedd with New machines with better capabilities.

[1rudeboy]

As far as I could tell from the other thread, some folks believe that Chrysler should not be allowed to sell its old equipment because the U.S. taxpayer guaranteed a loan (since repaid) during the 1980's.

[Grut]

I'm uncomfortably reminded of urban renewal: "this year we tear down the old, next year we put up the new." Only somehow, the funding for next year is always needed elsewhere and you're left with a construction site where downtown used to be.

[BnBlFlag]

"Let the country assimilate what we already have".

G-Man - You hit the nail on the head! This mass immigration by third worlders, both legal and illegal is overwhelming our core population and our culture.
A few more years of this Invasion and it's lights out for the Country we grew up in. And a very poor outlook for our Children and Grandchildren as well who, under the Affirmative Action laws, will be second-class citizens to every person "of color" who steps off the boat.

[SunkenCiv]

Interesting. It'll be nice for the Russians to be able to buy cars out of showrooms instead of waiting list.