The Chrysler Group has officially launched production of the new 2007 Dodge Ram 3500 chassis cab at its Saltillo Assembly Plant in Coahuila, Mexico. The Saltillo plant, which currently produces the Dodge Ram Mega Cab, Power Wagon, and Heavy Duty 2500 and 3500 models, takes on production of the 3500 chassis cab as part of DaimlerChrysler's Flexible Manufacturing Strategy (FMS).
DaimlerChrysler recently invested another $48 million in the plant, allowing for production of the 3500 chassis cab and expanding the plant facility by 120,000 square feet. The expansion allows the plant to produce commercial vehicles and will accommodate new frame configurations. This follows a $210 million investment into the plant for production of the 2006 Dodge Ram Mega Cab in 2005.
The Saltillo plant has 2,100 employees working on two shifts and is one of five Chrysler Group production facilities in Mexico.
FMS allows the company to produce a higher quality product, faster, for lower cost. In order to balance production with demand, FMS allows the company to efficiently build lower-volume vehicles that take advantage of market niche, and to quickly shift production volumes between different models within a single plant or among multiple plants.