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PTCCmike
Cruiser Veteran
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PT Cruiser Club Member
Posted: Jan 16, 2004, 10:01 AM
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2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible Launches Production
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New 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible Launches Production at Chrysler
Group's Toluca Assembly Plant
Auburn Hills, Jan 15, 2004
Same plant that builds award-winning PT Cruiser sedan launches convertible
Rolling manufacturing launch results in zero production lost at plant
Product design and assembly processes contribute to quiet, smooth ride
Chrysler Group celebrated this week the production launch of the new 2005
Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible at the companys Toluca (Mexico) Assembly
Plant, the same facility that produces the award-winning, segment-busting
Chrysler PT Cruiser.
Approximately 2,000 employees joined Dieter Zetsche, President and CEO for
Chrysler Group; Wolfgang Bernhard, Chief Operating Officer; Joe Eberhardt,
Executive Vice President, Global Sales and Marketing; Roberto Gutierrez,
Vice President, Mexico Manufacturing Operations; as well as Hugo Diaz
Covarrubias, President of the Mexican Union to mark the occasion.
We are pleased with the smooth production launch of the Chrysler PT Cruiser
Convertible, said Tom LaSorda, Executive Vice President of Manufacturing,
Chrysler Group. Our employees dedication to customer satisfaction and the
application of proven manufacturing processes have created a vehicle with
the highest level of quality and head-turning style that is part of the PT
Cruiser heritage.
The PT Cruiser era began at Toluca Assembly back in February 2000 with the
introduction of the segment-busting vehicle. Since that time, the vehicle
has won more than 25 awards from Auto Week, Fortune, American Automobile
Association (AAA), among others. Most recently, the PT Cruiser tied for
first place for the best ownership experience in the Compact Car category of
Strategic Visions 2003 Total Quality Index.
Chrysler Group invested approximately $45 million in tooling and equipment
at Toluca Assembly for the new Convertible production. The company also
implemented a cross-functional launch team that was able to maintain
production of the Chrysler PT Cruiser sedan while managing the equipment
changeover for the launch. The result was a rolling launch with no loss of
production.
During the rolling launch, pre-production Convertibles were built and tested
on the same assembly line where the PT Cruiser sedan is manufactured,
steadily ramping up while not compromising existing production at the plant.
The launch team was able to verify the quality of the equipment and new
manufacturing processes seamlessly, enabling a faster ramp-up without
compromising quality.
The entire team at the plant contributed to the successful operations weve
seen at Toluca Assembly, stated Roberto Gutierrez, Vice President of Mexico
Manufacturing Operations, Chrysler Group. From the ongoing production of PT
Cruiser to the rolling changeover, we achieved positive gains in
productivity and quality, without missing a day of production.
Quality Systems
Through the application of team-based operating principles and dedication to
continuous improvement, the Toluca Assembly plant has earned a reputation
for producing high-quality vehicles with world-class efficiency. Numerous
in-plant quality systems, several of which are interconnected, support this
effort.
Every area of the plants operations uses a consistent, quality verification
system. This system confirms that the highest level of quality is met at
each work zone before a vehicle moves to the next area of assembly. When a
potential issue is identified, assemblers isolate the issue and take
immediate action for problem resolution.
Technology also plays a key role in quality verification. In the body shop,
a state-of-the-art metrology laboratory checks body panels and assemblies
for dimensional accuracy. In the trim, chassis and final assembly area,
hand-held testers are used by employees for in-station programming of the
electronic systems and verification of its functionality.
Even with the launch of the PT Cruiser Convertible, Toluca Assembly Plant
continues to trend favorably in terms of vehicle quality. Warranty costs at
the facility were second-lowest among all Chrysler Group manufacturing
plants for the 2003 model year and improved more than 20 percent between the
2001 and 2002 model years.
Operational Changes
A number of changes were implemented at Toluca Assembly in preparation for
PT Cruiser Convertible production, in order to add greater plant
flexibility. New robotic equipment was installed in the body shops welding
operations for improved precision and efficiency. The trim, chassis and
final assembly area was expanded to build both sedans and convertibles.
A new dedicated line was installed for the Convertibles underbody process. A
combination of robotic and employee-manned work stations weld the PT Cruiser
Convertibles underbody, engine compartment and body side systems. This
arrangement reduces floor space requirements for a more flexible and
efficient plant, resulting in the capacity to build additional body lines
within the plant at a minimum investment.
Convertible assemblers use a newly installed ergonomic assist arm to
position the top module for installation to the vehicle. A fixture then
aligns the top to the rear quarter panels, while fasteners lock the top into
the proper alignment. Using the setting fixture assures a repeatable fit to
the vehicle, which helps achieve the optimal fit and finish on the final
vehicle.
Hands-on Training from Development to Launch
Employees from the plant helped develop and refine the PT Cruiser
Convertibles build process. Based on past production experience, best
practices from sedan production were incorporated into the Convertible build
before the new vehicle launched. Process refinements were identified early
in the vehicles development to ensure that the product and the process
worked together prior to the launch of the vehicle.
The Chrysler PT Cruiser is currently sold in over 90 countries around the
world.
## END ##
Related links from PT Cruiser Club:
New Model Information
http://www.ptcruiserclub.org/models
2005 PT Cruiser Convertible
http://www.ptcruiserclub.org/models/2005/convertible
2005 PT Cruiser Convertible Photo Gallery
http://www.ptcruiserclub.org/...vertible/gallery.htm
Michael J. Challis - PTCC Founder
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Mike Challis - PT Cruiser Club Founder
PT Cruiser Club is built around a community of people with the same interest (the Chrysler PT Cruiser), nowhere else will you find so much PT Cruiser information and as many enthusiasts.
 Join the Club Today!
Join the Club and get Member Discounts at PT Cruiser Club Store on PT Cruiser Accessories.
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Posts: 4948 | From: Long Beach, WA
| Registered: Sep 1, 1999, 12:00 AM
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RAYN
Cruiser Expert
Posted: Jan 17, 2004, 2:17 AM
Post #2 of 2
(841 views)
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Re: [PTCCmike] 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible Launches Production
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 ummmm well the convetible has FINALLY begun to roll off the lines in Mexico. Even received my "free" poster from Chrysler which shows a red convertible "Concept" at the bottom. Very Nice. HOWEVER!!!!!!! On the Chrysler web site there is a blurb about a "special edition" convertible for 19,995. Man thats my kind of money. There is also a note to "see dealer for details" Well I have seen TWO dealers and the response from both was DUH! We know nothing about this! It seems that at first the Touring model will only be built with the turbo lite which requires the $825 optional transmission no five speed is offered with this at all but doesnt indicate that on Chryslers web site its listed as an option there, and after calling the Chrysler sales line and talking with a representative there who was very helpful but didnt know a lot more than I do that the special edition was a "base" model 2.4 litre 150 HP five speed with minimal trim. Yes it does have wheels (he didnt know what size tho) and a back seat cloth interior tinted glass power top but no boot. Both the dealers I talked to are only interested in the GT model which will top out at nearly 30K and both were indicating a mark up over list of at least 2,000. Now doesnt this all sound like deja vu again. Man Im gonna wait till thay have a lot full of them and a 2500.00 rebate before I take the plunge believe me. I paid over sticker for the one that I have now a 2001 Limited but Im surely NOT going to do that again. Period No matter How badly I want the car. Have a great Day!!!!!!
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Posts: 199 | From: Arlington Virginia USA
| Registered: Feb 24, 2002, 12:00 AM
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