Ewasyshyn: Moving trucks to Michigan costly

Chrysler group's manufacturing chief Frank Ewasyshyn: Moving truck assembly from Delaware to Michigan "would be challenging. It certainly wouldn't be a weekend activity."

Bradford Wernle | Automotive News / October 30, 2006 - 1:00 am DETROIT -- The Chrysler group is considering closing its Newark, Del., plant as it struggles to return to profitability. And its truck plant in Warren, Mich., is at the top of the list of possible factories to assemble the Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen SUVs if Newark shuts down.

But transferring production of the two SUVs to Warren would be costly and time-consuming, said Frank Ewasyshyn, Chrysler executive vice president of manufacturing.

Ewasyshyn declined to comment on reports Chrysler is studying the move.

"Warren Truck was built in 1975 and not built to handle anything other than cab and box," Ewasyshyn said in a wide-ranging interview at Chrysler headquarters last week in Auburn Hills, Mich.

"It would be challenging. It certainly wouldn't be a weekend activity. It's a question of money and time."

Ewasyshyn said Chrysler must build a paint shop at Warren to accommodate anything but pickups. Paint shops are among the most expensive and complex parts of an auto manufacturing operation.

Warren Truck makes the Dodge Dakota and Ram pickups. Some versions of the Ram are also made at Chrysler's St. Louis North and Saltillo, Mexico, plants.

Newark is the sole Chrysler factory building body-on-frame SUVs. Chrysler's other SUVs are all unibody construction, including the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Newark employs 1,900 workers on a single shift. The plant has been hit hard by slow sales of the Durango. The Aspen has just been introduced.

Ewasyshyn said he is participating in Chrysler's search for a small-car manufacturing partner.

Chinese manufacturer Chery Automobile Co. has been mentioned as a leading candidate.

Ewasyshyn declined to name prospective partners but said: "The people we're talking to are capable of building a car."