Motoryzacja

Eroding pickup sales could lead to the closure of Chrysler LLC's St. Louis truck plant by next year, a leading industry analyst firm predicted Wednesday. The prediction comes after Chrysler's announcement Monday that it is reducing production at the pickup factory and shuttering a nearby minivan plant in response to sputtering industry sales of trucks and SUVs.

The next few months will tell a lot about the success of Chrysler LLC's redesigned minivan, which so far has been greeted by positive reviews but disappointing sales declines. In the six full months since Chrysler launched its redesigned Chrysler and Dodge brand minivans, U.S. sales have dropped 12%.

It's official: Chrysler plans to launch redesigned versions of the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 in 2010. The Auburn Hills automaker's plan to launch redesigned versions of the full-size cars in 2010 was an open secret in Detroit, but it was something that Chrysler officials never talked about in public.

It's official: Chrysler plans to launch redesigned versions of the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 in 2010. The Auburn Hills automaker's plan to launch redesigned versions of the full-size cars in 2010 was an open secret in Detroit, but it was something that Chrysler officials never talked about in public.

Ford laid off all pickup production workers at its plant near Kansas City, Mo., on Monday -- the same day that a third shift of production workers began making F-150 pickups at its Dearborn Truck Plant. Ford executives said Monday that the redesigned F-150 is generating enough sales to support additional shifts at both plants.