New Third Shift Lets Out Early At The Daimler-Chrysler Plant

Belvidere, Illinois- The first day of the third shift at Belvideres Chrysler plant let out early last night because of body shop issues. According to a Daimler- Chrysler spokesman, the company is having trouble with the multi-million dollar robots it installed in Belvidere to build the Caliber, Jeep Patriot and Jeep Compass. Chuck Byers sells Dodge Calibers at Belvidere Motors. He says the supply of cars can not keep up with the demand. "We sell them as quickly as we can get them." John Hiebert sells Jeep Compasses at Jack Wolf Chrysler- Jeep. He has the same problem. "We`ve got a couple now and a lot coming in, but the plant in Belvidere is supplying the whole U.S. so it`s a little slow at this point." Hiebert says people come in and ask about the compass everyday. "There`s always someone in asking if we have inventory yet." Neither Buyers nor Hiebert was sure if problems at the Belvidere plant will slow things down even more. "We`re proud of the plant and the product they`re producing and sometimes they have startup problems, but that`s standard. They`re producing a very good car," says Hiebert.