Chevy SSR Pickup Truck Over-Inventoried; GM Announces Production Cut

Chevrolet has announced it will be cutting production of the Chevy SSR Truck at the Lansing Craft Center assembly plant. GM-Chevrolet is reported to have enough of the SSR Chevy pickup trucks to last around 300 days. Optimal targets are set at 60 days.

The production cut is expected to last five weeks in the first quarter of 2005. "It's a market-driven decision to align product volume with market demand," GM spokesman Stefan Weinmann stated.

The Chevy SSR pickup truck assembly plant employs 500 workers and will be shut down the weeks of Jan. 3, Jan. 10, Jan. 31, Feb.7 and Feb. 28. Brent Dewar, Chevrolet general manager, said there aren't any immediate plans to discontinue the SSR. "The SSR has a very important place as a halo vehicle for us," he said in a recent interview. "I'm very positive about the SSR." Mr. Dewar also added that the vehicle is bringing existing and new customers into Chevrolet car and truck showrooms in most markets. "They may not be buying SSRs," Dewar said, "but in many cases the customers are still buying a Chevrolet product."

Overall Chevrolet sales are up 4% for 2004.