BELVIDERE, Ill. (AP) — Citing a tough market, Chrysler will shut down a northern Illinois assembly plant for two weeks starting this weekend.
The plant in Belvidere will shut down Saturday. Workers there make the Dodge Caliber, Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot.
In confirming the shutdown, Chrysler spokeswoman Michelle Tinson blames ''tough market conditions.''
Sales of the Compass were down 19 percent in September compared to the same month last year, while Caliber sales were down 20 percent. Sales of the Patriot were down 16 percent from August.
The company's overall U.S. sales dropped five percent last month.
The Belvidere plant's more than 3,800 employees will still receive most of their pay during the forced two-week break.
