Redesign of Dakota pickup will boost steel demand.
Author/s: Al Wrigley
Issue: May 2, 2000
DETROIT -- DaimlerChrysler Corp. is completely redesigning its
intermediate-size Dodge Dakota pickup trucks, for 2003, and planning to
increase production of the new models by at least 16 percent over current
levels.
The production boost, along with an anticipated increase in the curb weight
of the average model in the pickup line, is expected to boost the amount of
flat-rolled steel currently used in the Dakota trucks by up to 40,000 tons
per year.
According to DaimlerChrysler sources here, the company expects to produce
and sell more than 200,000 of the redesigned trucks annually compared with a
range of 159,000 to 173,000 in the past three years. Production was at the
high end of that range last year.
Some DaimlerChrysler executives think the company should set a target of
250,000 vehicles a year for the redesigned pickups because of the strength
of the North American truck market. If demand for the revamped trucks
results in the automaker building 250,000 of the redesigned vehicles
annually, the bonus"-for DaimlerChrysler's steel frame and body steel
suppliers is likely to be 40,000 tons or more per year, sources said.
DaimlerChrysler sources said the redesigned pickups for 2003 would be
roomier inside than the current models and feature stiffer, stronger, safer
and better-riding construction, with steel again serving as the principal
construction material. The list of differences also includes an all-new
look; a more-than-usual amount of high-strength sheet and tubular steels;
and the availability in some models of anew iron-block; aluminum-head V-8
engine displacing 5.7 liters with hemispherical combustion chambers.
(Steve-here's comes the Hemi)
DaimlerChrysler sources said they expect the redesigned pickups to use at
least 35 pounds more aluminum in various parts than the models they will
replace. If the company is able to build and sell 27,000 to 77,000, more
pickups than it did previously, the bonus for aluminum suppliers will amount
to between 1 million and 2.7 million pounds per year. (Steve-which means a
lighter truck as I said before)
The new pickups, like the current models, are expected to be assembled in
Warren, Mich. Mill suppliers of steel used by that plant and by
DaimlerChryslers outside frame and body stampings vendors in recent
years--several of whom have an "early involvement" stake in the new pickup
program--include LTV Steel Corp., Cleveland; National Steel Corp.,
Mishawaka, Ind.; U.S. Steel Group, Pittsburgh; Rouge, Steel Co., Dearborn,
Mich.; Bethlehem Steel Corp., Bethlehem, Pa.; Ispat Inland Inc., Chicago;
and AK Steel Corp., Middletown, Ohio.
Steel processors involved in the production of configured or-first-operation
steel blanks to DaimlerChrysler's stamping plants that make parts for the
assembly operations in. Warren include-Worthington Industries Inc.,
Columbus, Ohio; Thyssen Krupp Steel NA, Detroit; Pro-Coil Corp., Canton,
Mich.; and Shiloh Industries Inc., Mansfield, Ohio.
COPYRIGHT 2000 Cahners Publishing Company
COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group
-------------------------------------------
Steven St.Laurent
Test Engineer
Test Branch, GSD, MCTSSA
MARCORSYSCOM, USMC
760-725-2506 (DSN 365-2506)
Work:mailto:stlaurents@mctssa.usmc.mil
Home:mailto:saint1958@home.com
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