Chrysler to stop Dakota production

[AVANTI R5]

Chrysler Group LLC will end production of its Ram Dakota compact pickup Tuesday — a move that has already cost 39 temporary workers their jobs and could lead to more layoffs at the company's Warren Truck Plant.

"We're working through the numbers and will not have details until next week," said Chrysler spokeswoman Jodi Tinson.

However, the union believes the number could reach 150 or more.
"In most cases, if there are layoffs, those people would be redeployed to other Chrysler facilities," Tinson said.

The factory, which also builds the Ram 1500 pickup, is running two shifts and employs about 2,300 hourly workers.

Some workers at the plant were nervous about the future Friday.
"We're concerned," said Chrysler worker Peter Moceri. "We're wondering if we're getting another vehicle."

In May, Chrysler Group CEO Sergio Marchionne said the company plans to replace the body-on-frame Dakota with a car-based "lifestyle" vehicle for the Ram brand.

He said a decision had not yet been made about where to build it.
Product analyst Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics LLP said it was time to pull the plug on the aging truck.

"There was a time there when it was bringing buyers in that would have not bought a Ram," he said.

"The tooling was paid off, but the volumes got sub-critical."
In 2000, Chrysler sold more than 177,000 Dakotas. Last year, it barely sold 13,000.

The compact pickup segment represents less than 5 percent of total industry sales.

Ford Motor Co. plans to end production of its Ford Ranger compact pickup at the end of this year.

From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110820/...#ixzz1VbpwlbgA

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[MrSaabaru]

awkward way to find out they still make the dakota...

[A_Pointy_Rock]

Originally Posted by MrSaabaru

awkward way to find out they still make the dakota...

I thought that when they killed its brother they'd figure out to kill it...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_Raider

[424wrx]

it just doesnt sell anymore. people buy full size trucks at that point. i had a 94 and 98 dakota back in the day. the 98 sucked soo much it made me start buying imports. the rest is history.

[Eugene Onegin]

Just when they started to make one that looked OK (the 2011)they're going to stop making them.

[sgilson]

We have a 2002 dakota with the v8 and really like it. It is more of midsize than a compact. I think if they just follow the Durrango look, they will be ok...just ad the optional awd option.

[HipToBeSquare]

Dakota should just be a platform-share with Durango, as a 2 and 4 door SUT version. That would be fine.

[Predwolf]

I've always liked the Dakota, but with the amount of attention the bigger brother gets, it was bound to happen.