Fiat Chrysler is struggling to get production of the 2019 Ram 1500 up to full speed with quality and supply problems slowing down output of the critical new pickup.
Sergio Marchionne, Fiat Chrysler’s CEO, said the Sterling Heights assembly plant, which started making the pickup in January 2018, after being retooled from the failed Chrylser 200, is “probably running today at 60 percent of cycle”.
Sources told Automotive News the plant is only making 1,000 to 1,400 trucks per day, and is running full throttle with two 10 hour shifts per day, seven days a week to get the production rate up to par.
The factory will continue working through weekends and holidays until Labor Day.
Fiat Chrysler dealers have begun receiving the new Ram truck, but only with the 5.7-liter V8. Models with the 3.6-liter V6 or the V8 mild hybrid have yet to delivered.
The company continues to production the previous generation Ram 1500. Sources say suppliers have struggled to supply parts for both models, and the Sterling Heights factor was still undergoing reconstruction as workers began producing the new pickup.
Source: Automotive News
