Chrysler Will Shut Down for 2 Weeks

Chrysler plans to shut down all operations for two weeks in July to save money and “accelerate Chrysler's recovery and transformation,” CEO Robert Nardelli writes in a company memo. Employees will take a forced break July 7-20 “in order to create better alignment and efficiency across organizational lines and boost productivity,” says the memo, obtained by the Wall Street Journal.

Chrysler, which lost $1.6 billion in 2007, is involved in restructuring that includes cutting back on some vehicle lines and attempting to buy out many of its 44,000 workers, Reuters reports. Automakers often shut down plants in July—but this year's move applies to salaried employees, too, the AP notes. A few workers, however, may keep working on special projects. (More Chrysler stories.)