FCA's restart plans take shape

DETROIT -- Fiat Chrysler Automobiles plans to resume North America production at its U.S. and Canadian facilities on May 4 and May 18, the company told suppliers during a webinar on Wednesday.

But there's uncertainty around the return dates for its Mexico plants after the country extended its stay-at-home measures until May 30 on Thursday. The automaker told suppliers Wednesday that it was aiming to restart production on April 20 at its Saltillo van plant before resuming operations at its Saltillo truck plant on April 27.

A spokeswoman said Friday that the "intended plan right now is for April 27" at both Saltillo factories. But that is assuming that the government designates them as essential, which has not happened yet. The status of FCA's Toluca plant, which was given an estimated return date of May 18, is also unclear. 

"The reality of the situation in Mexico is very fluid as you saw yesterday, changing minute by minute," the spokeswoman said.

The automaker also said several key products would be delayed as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, including the Jeep Grand Wagoneer and next-generation Grand Cherokee. The automaker estimates that each of those models, expected to arrive in 2021, will face three-month delays.

Fiat Chrysler's U.S. operations have struggled significantly with the coronavirus pandemic -- at least 15 hourly workers who have been linked to the disease have died, according to the UAW.

Company executives said plants will begin with one-shift patterns. Marlo Vitous, FCA's head of North America supply chain planning and global inter-regional flow, said during the supplier presentation that the company will only restart operations with "safe, secure and sanitized" workplaces that "protect all of our employees and you."

In the U.S., the estimated return date for its Detroit area plants is May 4. The resumption of Wrangler production at the Toledo North site in Ohio is also being targeted for May 4. FCA's Brampton car plant in Canada that assembles the Dodge Challenger, Charger and Chrysler 300 is scheduled to restart on May 4 as well.

FCA's progressive return would continue on May 18 for its Jeep Cherokee plant in Belvidere, Ill.; the Toledo South plant that produces the Jeep Gladiator; and the Windsor minivan plant in Canada.

Vitous said the launch cadence for the company's powertrain and stamping plants that support the assembly operations is still being determined.

"As I tell my team, we're all in this together," Vitous told suppliers. "We need your increased support now. You will have ours."