Voyageur brings new hope for FCA as third shift ends in Windsor

Chrysler’s Windsor Assembly Plant has announced the end of the third shift.

The third shift at Windsor Assembly will end on June 29 and go to a two-shift operation for the first time since 1993.

The announcement comes as Chrysler is trying to align supply with demand.

The Chrysler Pacifica’s sales dropped by 50,000 in 2018 and 23,000 in 2017. This is a three per cent decrease in sales.

Worldwide, car sales are down by more than 3.1 million in 2019. According to experts, this is the worst since the 2008/2009 financial crisis.

To combat the decrease in sales, Chrysler is looking to introduce the Chrysler Voyageur, which is what the company calls, “a stripped-down version of their Pacifica.” It retails for approximately $26,000 in the US. No release date has been announced for Canada.

Chrysler is also phasing out the Dodge Grand Caravan on May 22.

“The company will make every effort to place indefinitely laid-off hourly employees in open full-time positions as they become available based on seniority and will offer retirement packages to eligible employees,” said Lou Ann Gosselin, head of communications for FCA Canada in an emailed statement.

As a result of the end of the third shift, 1,500 people could be without jobs.