Chrysler suspends production at 5 plants

DETROIT, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Chrysler Motors will suspend production at five assembly plants, due to difficulty obtaining parts, The Detroit News reported Monday.

The plants -- Sterling Heights Assembly Plant in Michigan; Toledo North Assembly Plant and Toledo Supplier Park in Ohio; Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois; and Newark Assembly in Delaware -- will close until the company can find replacements for parts that were supplied by Plastech Engineered Products Inc.

Chrysler canceled its contract with Plastech Friday. The company, which supplies injection molded plastic components for vehicle interiors, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last week.

General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. also purchase parts from Plastech, but say they've had no interruption in their supplies, the report said.

Chrysler said production interruptions, which could trickle down to power train and stamping operations, will be rescheduled.