BELVIDERE — Workers at Chrysler Group LLC’s Belvidere assembly plant turned out 17,181 Dodge Calibers, Jeep Compasses and Jeep Patriots in February.
It marked the plant’s highest production volume since October 2008 when 23,540 vehicles rolled out of the plant. Of course, October, November and December 2008 was when the economy, already in a recession, went into a free fall, necessitating a massive federal bank bailout and eventually driving Chrysler and General Motors Co. into bankruptcy in 2009.
Chrysler emerged under the majority ownership of the United Auto Workers but is controlled by Italian automaker Fiat.
February’s production numbers are encouraging, but the sales figures were not. Although Caliber, Compass and Patriot deliveries to U.S. dealers were up 27.8 percent in February, sales in Canada fell 23 percent, sales in Mexico plunged 41 percent and international dealer sales were down nearly 6 percent.
For the month, dealers worldwide sold just 11,689 of the Belvidere-built models.
Dealers worldwide ordered just 3,512 of the plant’s flagship model, the Caliber, which features improved interiors for its 2010 model year. Caliber orders were down all over the world compared with February 2008.
Sales of the Belvidere-built Jeeps picked up the slack, though. The Patriot’s 4,835 orders was up 19 percent from 2008 with gains in the U.S., Canadian and international markets.
Sales of the Compass soared 55 percent with major gains in the United States and international markets — the Compass’ best sales are in Europe — more than offsetting declines in orders from Mexico and Canada. The 3,342 orders for the Compass was the highest for that vehicle since July 2009 and the second most since August 2008.
Alex Gary may be reached at agary@rrstar.com or at 815-987-1339.
