An Iowa City company that produces auto parts plans to lay off more than 400 workers by the year’s end as Fiat Chrysler phases out the Dodge Dart.
According to the Associated Press, International Automotive Components (IAC) will reduce its hourly workforce at the plant from 600 workers to 160 and cut salaried employees from 76 to 39. The company has locations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, Asia, Africa and South America.
According to the company website, IAC has more than “160 years of automotive interiors technology expertise.”
Company spokesman David Ladd told KCRG that the layoffs are because of a downturn in business with automotive companies. The Iowa City facility makes several products for the Dodge Dart, which Fiat Chrysler announced earlier this year it will be phasing out. Parts produced by the Iowa City plant included instrument panels and door panels.
The company also makes dashboard and instrument panels for the Jeep Compass and Patriot vehicles. Fiat Chrysler also announced it is moving production of those vehicles out of Illinois, which is beyond the shipping radius of IAC’s Iowa City plant.
Ladd told KCRG that IAC hasn’t been able to find anything to replace the business with at the Iowa City plant. The location will continue to produce parts for General Motors, Ford, Chevrolet and Hyundai.