Chrysler Group Maintains Greatest Productivity Improvement Over Six Years, According to Harbour Report

The Chrysler Group has improved its overall manufacturing productivity by an industry-leading 25 percent over the last six years, according to the Harbour Report North America 2007. The company has improved its overall hours per vehicle (HPV) time by 2.4 percent to 32.90 for the 2006 calendar year. The annual Harbour Report is a broadly accepted measure of productivity in the automotive industry. Nearly all major manufacturers participate in the survey. According to Ron Harbour, President – Harbour Consulting, Chrysler Group's manufacturing productivity is supported by numerous improvements throughout the company.

“Improving productivity in the face of lower production is a huge accomplishment, but none of the domestic manufacturers can afford to let up,” said Ron Harbour, president of Harbour Consulting. “Chrysler’s 19 percent reduction in total manufacturing hours per vehicle over the last five years is the biggest improvement of the six largest North American automakers over that period. The challenge now is to take that progress to the next level.”

Among the highlights for the Chrysler Group, eight assembly plants ranked within the top five of their segment for productivity improvements.

Windsor Assembly was North America's most productive minivan plant and St. Louis South, second. For the midsize SUV segment, Jefferson North Assembly took both first place for the Jeep® Grand Cherokee and fifth for the Jeep Commander; Toledo North, home of the Dodge Nitro ranked second place and third for Jeep Liberty; Newark Assembly ranked second for the Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen in the large utility segments;

Brampton Assembly ranked fifth for the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and Dodge Magnum in the large – non-premium conventional segment; Warren Truck ranked fifth for the Mitsubishi Raider in the midsize – non-premium pick-up segment and Toledo Supplier Park ranked second for Wrangler in the compact non-premium SUV segment.

"The Company continues to be on task to reach its goal of world-class productivity by end of 2007," said Frank Ewasyshyn, Executive Vice President Manufacturing, Chrysler Group.

"We are pleased to have made productivity gains during a 10-vehicle launch year, the most significant new-vehicle introduction in Chrysler Group history."