Chrysler Group Seeks to Cut Costs, Increase Common Parts

DETROIT  -- Chrysler Group said it will seek to cut costs by reducing the average time it takes to build a vehicle in its factories and increasing the use of share parts. The No. 4 U.S. automaker, which is set to announce a sweeping restructuring next month, said it has fixed a goal of reducing the average production time for its cars and trucks to less than 30 hours in 2007 from almost 34 hours in 2005. In materials posted on the DaimlerChrysler Web site to accompany a Thursday afternoon presentation by Chrysler Chief Operating Officer Eric Ridenour, the company also said it expected to have one-half of its components used on more than one vehicle platform in 2007, up from 34 percent in 2006.