Chrysler plans to temporarily shutdown most plants until Fiat deal closes

September 25th, 2009 AP Source: Chrysler board to consider product planDETROIT — A person briefed on the agenda says the new Chrysler Group LLC board will discuss plans for a number of new models, some based on cars sold by Italy's Fiat Group SpA. The person says the board will meet Friday to consider a range of new vehicles including a midsize car based on Fiat underpinnings that are now being developed.

September 16th, 2009 Fiat chief: Fiat-Chrysler can reach 6 millionFRANKFURT — Fiat and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said Wednesday that the new auto alliance can reach a production of 5.5 million to 6 million cars a year on its own once the economy and car markets stabilze. "We will arrive alone at 6 million units.

August 17th, 2009 Report: Chrysler to build Fiat 500 in MexicoNEW YORK — Chrysler Group LLC is planning to build the Fiat 500 small car at a plant in Mexico, according to a report published Monday. The automaker could also build an engine for the 500 at a plant in Trenton, Mich., and is weighing building another compact car similar to the 500 in the U.S., according to The Wall Street Journal, which cited anonymous sources familiar with the matter.

August 6th, 2009 Fiat takes over historic carmaker BertoneMILAN — The Italian automaker Fiat on Thursday won a bid to take over the bankrupt Italian car company Bertone, which will help design cars for the U.S. automaker Chrysler, the Italian Economic Development Ministry said.

June 30th, 2009 Chrysler Financial to cut 9 percent of workforceDETROIT — Chrysler's former financial arm says it will reduce its workforce by 9 percent as it restructures and closes a customer service center in Overland Park, Kansas. Chrysler Financial, a company separate from Chrysler Group, says the moves come as it no longer serves as the automaker's preferred lender for financing Chrysler vehicle purchases and dealer inventories.

June 12th, 2009 Iacocca to Marchionne: Welcome to ChryslerAUBURN HILLS, Mich. — The man who led the rescue of Chrysler in the 1980s has words of welcome for Fiat chief Sergio Marchionne after the Italian automaker's takeover of the U.S.

June 1st, 2009 Obama applauds Chrysler-Fiat dealWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says a court's decision to approve the sale of Chrysler's assets has given the automaker "a new lease on life." A judge approved the sale of most of Chrysler's assets to Italy's Fiat on Sunday. In a statement, the president said the deal will allow Chrysler to "successfully emerge from bankruptcy as a new, stronger, more competitive company for the future." Chrysler filed for bankruptcy in April.

May 9th, 2009 Cummins laying off 690 with Indiana plant closingCOLUMBUS, Ind. — Chrysler's production shutdown is causing Cummins to temporarily close a southern Indiana plant that makes diesel engines for Dodge Ram pickup trucks.

May 1st, 2009 Chrysler's Canadian plants halt productionTORONTO — A parts shortage resulting from Chrysler's restructuring under U.S. bankruptcy protection has forced the company's Canadian branch to halt its assembly operations indefinitely, a spokeswoman said Friday.

April 30th, 2009 UAW overwhelmingly ratifies Chrysler settlementDETROIT — Members of the United Auto Workers have overwhelmingly ratified a settlement deal with Chrysler on Wednesday night. The UAW says 82 percent of production workers and 80 percent of skilled-trades workers voted for the agreement in balloting that took place at UAW Chrysler locations throughout the U.S.

April 27th, 2009 Canadian workers accept Chrysler dealTORONTO — An overwhelming majority of workers at Chrysler Canada voted to accept a labor concession deal reached between their union and the beleaguered automaker, a union official said Sunday. The deal was approved by 87 percent of those who voted over the weekend.

April 27th, 2009 Source: Chapter 11 won't kill Fiat-Chrysler dealMILAN — Fiat still wants to pursue an alliance with Chrysler if the U.S. automaker is forced to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection from creditors, a source close to the Turin-based automaker said Monday.

April 24th, 2009 Canadian union says deal near with ChryslerTORONTO — The Canadian Auto Workers union says it is close to agreement on a deal with Chrysler Canada. CAW spokeswoman Shannon Devine says she is hopeful a deal will be reached late Friday afternoon.

March 31st, 2009 TORONTO - Canada Monday announced $4 billion in interim loans to General Motors (GM) and Chrysler as the struggling auto giants undertake government-supervised restructuring plans. Unlike the Obama administration in the US, the Canadian government has, however, stopped short of asking for top-level executive changes.

January 19th, 2009 NEW YORK/ROME - Italian carmaker Fiat and US car concern Chrysler have signed an agreement to merge their companies, Chrysler disclosed Tuesday. Chrysler, at its Auburn Hills, Michigan headquarters, said that the agreement is still preliminary and not yet binding.