Chrysler Cars

Chrysler holds to tool plans

Although Chrysler officials haven’t said so publicly, the company and its weld-assembly system and automation suppliers are going ahead with work on the second minivan production line, which should be finished, installed and ready for use in the 1987 model year. It will be capable of turning out both existing sizes and extended versions of the compact front-wheel-drive vans, the Plymouth Voyager and Dodge Caravan.

The tooling program was held up late last year because of a problem invovling production sites, but this problem will be resolved over the next six to 12 months, Chrysler sources last week.

Chrysler sources said last week.

Chrysler isn’t going to let the lifting of import restraints affect its plans for an import-fighting small car, either. Prototypes of that car, which is known as the Concept 90 or “Liberty” project, already are being tested, and chrysler may speed up the development of the car in order to bring it out in the fall of 1988 as a 1989 model.

The third largest domestic automaker also is proceeding with another tooling project that some industry observers thought would be interrupted by the removal of voluntary restraints on cars imported from Japan: the J-car program for 1987.