Saint Louis Assembly

Last updated
Saint Louis Assembly
Chrysler starlogo.svg
Saint Louis Assembly
Operated1959–2009 [1]
Location Fenton, Missouri
Coordinates 38°32′54″N90°27′34″W / 38.5483°N 90.4594°W / 38.5483; -90.4594
Industry Automotive
Products Automobiles
Area300 acres (1.2 km2)
Owner(s) Chrysler
Defunct2009;14 years ago (2009)

Saint Louis Assembly was a Chrysler automobile factory in Fenton, Missouri. The "South" plant opened in 1959, while the "North" portion opened in 1966. The Saint Louis Factory was built to accommodate Chrysler's new Chrysler B platform allowing the company to build subcompact vehicles. Saint Louis North was the home of minivan production from 1987 through 1995, when it was converted to build the Dodge Ram pickup truck. Minivan production was switched to the South plant, which had been shut down since 1991, in 1995 and continued there through the 2007 model year.

On December 13, 2005, DaimlerChrysler announced that it would spend US$1 billion upgrading the two Saint Louis plants to be more flexible and efficient. This process was expected to occur between 2006 and 2010. On June 30, 2008, Chrysler LLC announced plans to shutter the South plant, consolidating all minivan manufacturing in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. [2]

Production at the North plant was shut down, along with other Chrysler factories, when the company filed for bankruptcy on April 30, 2009. Although production briefly resumed the last week of June 2009, [3] the plant was later closed for good in early July 2009. [4] Both plants were razed in 2011.

In 2013, the 300-acre site was floated as a possibility for the site for a new stadium for the St. Louis Rams if plans to renovate Edward Jones Dome did not materialize. [5] The Rams ultimately chose to return to Southern California. The team formally filed its request to leave St. Louis for Los Angeles on 4 January 2016. [6] On January 12, 2016, the NFL approved the Rams' request for relocation to Los Angeles for the 2016 NFL season. [7]

In October 2016, groundbreaking began for the [8] [9] $222 million Fenton Logistics Park [10] by KP Development. [11] It includes two million square feet of office, warehouse, and industrial space.

Vehicles produced

Some of models produced at the North and South plants included:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plymouth (automobile)</span> Defunct American automobile brand

Plymouth was a brand of automobiles produced by Chrysler Corporation and its successor DaimlerChrysler. The brand was launched in 1928 to compete in what was then described as the "low-priced" market segment that was dominated by Chevrolet and Ford. It became a high-volume seller for the automaker until the late 1990s. Plymouth cars were marketed primarily in the United States. The brand was withdrawn from the marketplace in 2001. The Plymouth models that were produced up to then were either discontinued or rebranded as Chrysler or Dodge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dodge Caravan</span> Vehicle created by Dodge

The Dodge Caravan is a series of minivans that was manufactured by Chrysler from the 1984 to 2020 model years. The Dodge version of the Chrysler minivans, the Caravan was marketed as both a passenger van and a cargo van. For 1987, a long-wheelbase Dodge Grand Caravan was introduced. Produced in five generations across 36 model years, Dodge Caravan is the second longest-lived Dodge nameplate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chrysler K platform</span> Motor vehicle platform

The K-car platform was a key automotive design platform introduced by Chrysler Corporation for the 1981 model year, featuring a transverse engine, front-wheel drive, independent front and semi-independent rear suspension configuration—a stark departure from the company's previous reliance on solid axle, rear-drive unibody configurations during the 1970s. Derived from Chrysler's L-cars, the Plymouth Horizon and Dodge Omni, the platform was developed just as the company faltered in the market, at first underpinning a modest range of compact/mid-size sedans and wagons—and eventually underpinning nearly fifty different models, including all-wheel drive variants—and playing a vital role in the company's subsequent resurgence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chrysler minivans</span> Motor vehicle platform

The Chrysler minivans are a series of minivans that have been produced and marketed by the American automaker Chrysler since the 1984 model year. Currently in its sixth generation, the model line is marketed worldwide, primarily in North America and Europe. Introduced as the Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager, the Chrysler minivans have been marketed under a variety of nameplates under the Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge, and Ram brands; through the use of rebadging, the model line has also been marketed under the Lancia and Volkswagen brands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chrysler 2.2 & 2.5 engine</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

The 2.2 and 2.5 are a family of inline-4 engines developed by Chrysler Corporation originally for the Chrysler K- and L-platforms cars and subsequently used in many other Chrysler vehicles. After its launch in 1981, it became the basis for all Chrysler-developed 4-cylinder engines until the Chrysler 1.8, 2.0 & 2.4 engine family was released in 1994. It was the first Chrysler engineered four cylinder engine since the Chrysler flathead four cylinder was discontinued in 1933.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plymouth Caravelle</span> Motor vehicle

The Plymouth Caravelle is a mid-size sedan that was introduced by Plymouth as a 1983 Canadian model. The Caravelle came to the United States in 1985 to replace the Chrysler E-Class. It was essentially identical to the concurrent Dodge 600. It was replaced by the Plymouth Acclaim in 1989. The Caravelle was Plymouth's first front wheel drive mid-size sedan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plymouth Voyager</span> Motor vehicle

Plymouth Voyager is a nameplate for a range of vans that were marketed by the Plymouth division of Chrysler. From 1974 until 1983, the Voyager was a full-size van, sold as the counterpart of Dodge Sportsman. For 1984, the Voyager became a Chrysler minivan sold alongside the Dodge Caravan; as a minivan, three generations of the Voyager were sold from 1984 until 2000. Following the closure of the Plymouth division in 2000, the Voyager was marketed under the Chrysler brand, where it was sold through 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chrysler M platform</span> Motor vehicle platform

The Chrysler M Platform was an intermediate-sized automobile platform used by Chrysler motors from 1977 to 1989. It was a successor to the F-body, as used on the Dodge Aspen/ Plymouth Volare. The M-body was also the successor to the short-lived R-body, as the Chrysler New Yorker and Plymouth Gran Fury moved to it following the R-body's demise in 1981. The M platform was the final production passenger car with a solid rear axle mounted on Hotchkiss-style, parallel semi-elliptical leaf springs sold in the U.S.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chrysler Town & Country (minivan)</span> Motor vehicle

The Chrysler Town & Country is a minivan that was manufactured and marketed by Chrysler from 1990 to the 2016 model years. The third of the Chrysler minivans introduced, the 1990 Town & Country shared its nameplate with the flagship Chrysler station wagon produced from 1941 to 1988. Five generations of the model line were produced, with the Town & Country positioned as the flagship luxury minivan trim package, slotted above the extended wheelbase Dodge Grand Caravan and Plymouth Grand Voyager.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dodge Diplomat</span> Motor vehicle

The Dodge Diplomat is an American mid-size car that was produced by Dodge from 1977 to 1989. At launch, it shared a common design with the Chrysler LeBaron and for much of its later production run was the counterpart of the more upscale Chrysler Fifth Avenue and lower priced Plymouth Gran Fury. It was also sold in Mexico between 1981 and 1982 as the Dodge Dart, and in Colombia as the Dodge Coronet. The Diplomat was initially offered in a coupe and a sedan; in 1978, station wagons were added as replacements for the discontinued full-sized C-body wagons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dodge Ram van</span> Motor vehicle

The Dodge Ram van is a range of full-size vans that were produced by Chrysler Corporation from the 1971 to 2003 model years. Replacing the Dodge A100, the Ram Van transitioned to a front-engine drivetrain configuration. Offered as a cargo van and a passenger van, the model line was initially offered as a cutaway van chassis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newark Assembly</span>

Newark Assembly was a Chrysler factory in Newark, Delaware built in 1951 to make tanks and later automobiles with production continuing until December 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windsor Assembly</span> Automobile factory by FCA Canada

Windsor Assembly Plant (WAP) is a Stellantis Canada automobile factory in Windsor, Ontario. The factory opened in 1928 and Chrysler minivans production began in 1983. Windsor Assembly is Windsor's largest employer. The plant currently operates two shifts with over 4,200 employees.

Toluca Car Assembly is a 220-acre (89 ha) Chrysler automobile factory in Toluca, State of Mexico, Mexico. It opened in 1968. Toluca Stamping is located nearby.

The Ultradrive is an automatic transmission manufactured by Chrysler beginning in the 1989 model year.

In the context of the automobile industry, downsizing is a practice used to transition vehicles from one size segment to another. Commenced during the Malaise era, downsizing is done in response to consumer and government demands influencing vehicle design. As vehicle product lines completed their model cycles, automobile manufacturers developed the next generation of a vehicle with a smaller exterior footprint to allow for weight reduction and increased fuel economy, using a shortened wheelbase and body length.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chrysler minivans (S)</span> Motor vehicle platform

The first-generation Chrysler minivans are a series of minivans produced and marketed by the Chrysler Corporation from the 1984 to the 1990 model years. Introduced as the first minivans from an American-brand manufacturer and popularizing the minivan as a vehicle, the Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager were launched ahead of chief competitors Chevrolet Astro/GMC Safari and Ford Aerostar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chrysler minivans (AS)</span> Motor vehicle

The second-generation Chrysler minivans are a series of minivans that were manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Corporation in North America and Europe from 1991 to 1995. Officially designated the AS platform by Chrysler, the second-generation minivans were an extensive revision of the first-generation chassis and body. As before, passenger and cargo configurations were sold by Dodge, Plymouth, and Chrysler divisions. The first minivans offered with driver-side airbags and with optional integrated child safety seats, the second-generation Chrysler minivans offered all-wheel drive as an option for the first time; a manual transmission would be offered for the last time in the North American market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chrysler minivans (NS)</span> Motor vehicle

The third-generation Chrysler minivans are a series of passenger minivans that were marketed by the Chrysler Corporation from the 1996 to 2000 model years. Designated the NS platform by Chrysler, these minivans were sold by Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth divisions in passenger configurations; minivans were exported under the Chrysler brand. While the second-generation AS platform was a revision of the original vans, the NS platform marked the first ground-up redesign of the Chrysler vans since their 1984 introduction, ending the use of components from K-Car derivatives.

Chrysler is a brand of North American luxury vehicles owned by Stellantis. It competes with brands such as Cadillac and Lincoln. The automaker was founded in 1925 by Walter Chrysler from the remains of the Maxwell Motor Company. The brand primarily focused on building luxury vehicles as the broader Chrysler Corporation expanded, following a strategy of brand diversification and hierarchy largely adopted from General Motors. However, the company and the brand have struggled to adapt to changing markets. As of 2023, the company's vehicle lineup consists of minivans and a single sedan which was last redesigned in 2010.

References

  1. Chrysler's St. Louis Plants (Fenton, Missouri) on Allpar.com, 16 Nov 2020
  2. Chrysler to close 1 plant; AP news, 30Jun08
  3. Press Release: Chrysler Group LLC Announces Production Start at Seven North American Assembly Plants, Auburn Hills, Michigan: Chrysler Group LLC, 17 June 2009, retrieved 5 April 2010
  4. Giegerich, Steve (20 July 2009), "Auto workers plan Friday rally at Fenton Chrysler plant", St. Louis Post-Dispatch , retrieved 5 April 2010[ permanent dead link ]
  5. Hunn, David (23 July 2012). "A new stadium for the St. Louis Rams?". Stltoday. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  6. Brinson, Will (4 January 2016). "Chargers, Raiders and Rams file for relocation to Los Angeles". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  7. "Rams re-locate to LA". ESPN. 13 January 2016.
  8. "Groundbreaking for first building at Fenton Logistics Park". 20 October 2016. Retrieved 2017-05-14.
  9. "Projects".
  10. "Fenton Logistics Park - KP Development". Archived from the original on 12 November 2015.
  11. KP Development lands uscd.com

38°32′54″N90°27′34″W / 38.54833°N 90.45944°W / 38.54833; -90.45944