We have information that Chrysler has announced plans to idle its second shift, of around 500 workers, at the Toledo plant that builds the all-new 2014 Jeep Cherokee crossover. Those 500 employees will be temporarily laid off.
The vehicle has been in full production at the plant since the end of June, and now that sufficiently large stocks have been created, the 2014 Cherokee SUVs just need to be sent to the dealers to be sold, but before they do that, they need to go over it once again to make sure no quality issues get through the net and end up being reported by consumers or the press.
The plant will only work on one shift for the coming two weeks, according to initial reports, though The Toledo Blade says it may actually be half that.
Apparently, some of the stated concerns stem from the fact that a new engine, gearbox and torque converter combination is being used for the first time on the Cherokee – Chrysler is not taking any chances with this, it seems, and they’re just calling themselves “extra-cautious on a complex launch.”
By Andrei Nedelea
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