One Chrysler factory to close, another to slow

7/1/2008

DETROIT Chrysler LLC said yesterday it will indefinitely close one Missouri plant and cut production at another because of slumping demand for pickup trucks and minivans.

In a conference call, officials of the automaker said the St. Louis South plant, which makes minivans, will close effective Oct. 31. The St. Louis North plant, which makes Dodge Ram full-size pickups, will be cut from two shifts to one effective Sept. 2. The moves will affect 1,500 jobs at the minivan plant and 900 at the truck plant, which both are in Fenton, a St. Louis suburb.