End of an era for the SUV

Chrysler is the latest automaker to announce plans to switch production away from light trucks and SUVs toward more fuel-efficient vehicles. Ford and General Motors made similar announcements recently.  ┬á Chrysler said yesterday it planned to invest $1.8 billion to convert its Jefferson North plant in Detroit ÔÇ£to allow more flexibility and higher output.ÔÇØ The plant currently produces the most popular model in Chrysler's line-up, the Jeep Grand Cherokee, but its popularity is on a downward curve as the price of gas continues to rise.┬á┬á A current Grand Cherokee equipped with a six-cylinder engine averages about 15 miles to the gallon in city driving and 19 miles on the highway.┬á┬á Although Chrysler has embarked on a cost cutting program, reducing its workforce and capacity to offset a slump in sales, this investment is necessary for it to be able to manufacture automobiles the public will buy. President Tom LaSorda said this expansion will create 400 jobs. ┬á┬á "This investment enables us to produce a new generation of world-class vehicles that meet the demand of our consumers around the globe," he said. ┬á┬á Ford, which lost a record $8.7 billion in the second quarter, announced plans last month to convert three of its North American assembly plants from truck-based products to cars. ┬á┬á Chrysler, Ford and GM have all been hit by falling demandÔÇöespecially for their large gas-guzzling models.   ┬á┬á┬á┬á*┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á *┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á *