BELVIDERE, Ill. (AP) -- Chrysler plans to lay off 992 workers at its Belvidere assembly plant in northern Illinois and convert the plant to a one-shift operation.
About 2,600 workers are employed at the Belvidere plant, which assembles Dodge Calibers, Jeep Patriots and Jeep Compasses. It's been idle since Chrysler filed for bankruptcy in April.
The struggling automaker announced the cuts in an e-mail Tuesday, and the layoffs begin July 27.
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said in a statement Wednesday that Chrysler's action shows that the Belvidere plant will be able to restart production while other plants around the country remain idle.
