Chrysler’s Dodge Dart Begins Production

Chrysler Group declared that its Dogde Dart is overcoming some issues before the beginning of production and it will have a high-mileage version ready soon.

Last week Sergio Marchionne, Chrysler and Fiat’s CEO, said that the company faced an issue with an unspecified part and that the Dart will start rolling off the assembly line May 3rd.

“We’re working with our suppliers,” said George Welitschinsky, president of United Auto Workers Local 1268 in Belvidere, Illinois on an April 27th. “Very shortly, that’s not going to be an issue. We’re rolling, we’re putting it out, we’re moving forward.”

Dodge Dart is the automaker’s most important new model since its rescue by Fiat (F) SpA and also the first Chrysler car based on the Fiat architecture. In the first quarter Dart will come with a package called Aero that achieves 41 miles (66 kilometers) per gallon in highway driving, offered on the base-level trim Dart SE.

“This is the first roll-out of true collaboration,” Rebecca Lindland, an analyst with IHS Automotive, said in a phone interview. Chrysler and Fiat “are in each other’s parts bins. You’re getting some benefit at the Dodge brand level and compact-car level from a premium product in Giulietta.”