Guys (and gals), let's try and set the record straight and establish the sky
isn't falling and
THE VIPER IS NOT DEAD - not by a long shot. Remember that news outlets make money by attracting readers. They attract readers with sensational stories like
OCTOMOM HAS SURPRISE NINTH BABY, NOW CALLED NINAMOM
"I guess he was just hiding there the whole time"
SWINE FLU FOUND IN DRINKING WATER
"Infected water discovered in trough at pig farm in rural Mexico"
CHRYSLER PLANT CLOSURE SPELLS END OF VIPER
"If you skip the fine print, UAW contracts, and everything else"
First, let's look at a more complete article that skips the hype and reports facts, like this one:
Chrysler to close 5 more plants; court case begins
Now, a couple quotes that are CRITICAL in this article and are
facts that
Left Lane chose to leave out:
- The lead-in: "NEW YORK – Attorneys for Chrysler LLC said the company will file a motion by Saturday morning to sell substantially all of its assets to Italian automaker Fiat Group SpA, but that won't include eight plants, including five that the automaker revealed it will shutter by the end of next year."
- It then goes on to say, "The eight plants would be left out of a deal for Italy's Fiat to buy the U.S. carmaker's most valuable assets in bankruptcy. Instead, the "new Chrysler" would lease the plants then shutter them by December 2010."
Now, does anybody remember the "
CAAP closing" thread regarding UAW negotiations? Yep, over a year and a half ago they announced that CAAP was closing and we held a moment of silence. Then we
read the fine print directly from the UAW and learned that CAAP would stay open,
by contract with the UAW, through the end of the current product lifecycle. Well folks, the current Viper is certified through 2010, they are already planning some different (non-certification) things for it, and will shortly announce a new option that is ready for ordering on the 2009 (two people already ordered it).
So this "closing" should come as no surprise as we learned about it almost two years ago. What we didn't know at the time was that Chrysler would offer to sell the platform to an outside buyer. We have since learned that they not only made the offer, but have at least
four interested parties. And guess what? That hasn't changed a bit. People are ordering Vipers, the plant is building them, and more are to come. So, one more time with the facts:
- This closing was already announced well over a year ago
- They further defined it today and are planning to close it at the end of 2010
- That means that not only will 2009's continue, but 2010's look like a lock
- They are in active discussions with potential buyers of the platform
- Those buyers may have the option of buying the plant or doing something else
- They have numerous sold orders still left to build (by contract)
- They continue to develop different options for the Viper - one to be announced shortly
And finally, we would politely remind everybody that the VCA has had the privilege of working directly with the manufacturer for years, as well as the owners and even a potential buyer or three. We are in discussions with all concerned parties on an almost-daily basis, including several calls today. The Viper isn't dead. The Viper isn't on its last legs. The Viper is
very much alive, well, and ready to continue kicking asp!
Respectfully submitted,
Chris Marshall, National President
Marv Spatz, National Vice President
Lee Stubberfield, National Treasurer
Bobby Cerchione, National Secretary
