Boom times: Fiat Chrysler running many plants without break

In what is traditionally a sign of boom times, Fiat Chrysler's U.S. operation says many of its plants will continue to run without the traditional summer shutdown so the automaker can continue to make as many cars and trucks as possible.

The decision to continue operating the plants reflects the steadily increasing pace of U.S. industry sales. The U.S. auto industry is on track to sell nearly 17 million new cars and trucks this year, a total not seen since before the recession.

Also, Fiat Chrysler has managed to sell more cars and trucks each month for 61 consecutive months on a year-over-year basis.

In most years, automakers shut down their plants for two weeks during the summer to repair equipment and prepare the assembly lines for changes for the next model year.

But Fiat Chrysler says four assembly plants, along with engine and transmission plants in the U.S. and Mexico, will run all summer without break.

The automaker said its stamping plants will operate according to the schedule of the assembly plants they serve.

The automaker operates a total of 36 manufacturing plants in North America, including 23 in the U.S. and seven in Mexico.

FCA US said today the following plants will continue to operate without interruption this summer:

• Michigan: Jefferson North (Detroit) Assembly, Mack Avenue (Detroit) Engine, Dundee Engine, Trenton Engine Complex.

• Indiana: Kokomo Casting, Kokomo Transmission.

• Ohio: Toledo Assembly Complex.

• Mexico: Saltillo Van Assembly, Saltillo Engine, Saltillo South Engine, Toluca Assembly.