According to ClickOnDetroit (WDIV), substantial layoffs are coming to the Auburn Hills headquarters of FCA US, the former Chrysler Group, which was the former Chrysler Corporation. Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said he was aiming his cost-cutting directly at the Auburn Hills complex, and also said there were “at least two” production plans needing a “significant turnaround.” European plant managers are being dispatched to these plants.
To try to match Chinese automakers’ costs, Tavares said they need a 30% cut in Stellantis costs. The French and Italian branches of the company are also being pruned. ClickOnDetroit quoted industry commentator John McElroy as saying that thousands of people would like to be affected, and that the headquarters tower would likely be sold (despite being attached to the engineering centers and development laboratories).
ClickOnDetroit claimed the cuts would take effect by the end of next month. They were unable to contact Stellantis for comments.
The original plans for the Chrysler Technology Center (CTC) did not include a headquarters tower; that was added later. One insider claimed it was because the executives were envious of the brand new digs enjoyed by engineers, technicians, designers, and testers. When the executives moved to Auburn Hills, they had their old headquarters and engineering buildings, including underground corporate archives, bulldozed into obscurity.
CTC references: Innovation Factory: The Chrysler Technology Center • Creating the CTC
David Zatz started what was to become the world’s biggest, most comprehensive Mopar site in 1994 as he pursued a career in organizational research and change. After a chemo-induced break, during which he wrote car books covering Vipers, minivans, and Jeeps, he returned with Patrick Rall to create StellPower.com for daily news, and to set up MoTales for mo’ tales.
David Zatz has around 30 years of experience in covering Chrysler/Mopar news and history, and most recently wrote Century of Chrysler, a 100-year retrospective on the Chrysler marque.
Discover more from Stellpower - that Mopar news site
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.