Stellantis temporarily halted Jeep Wrangler production at its Toledo, Ohio assembly plant due to a chemical release at a nearby plant.
According to CBT News, the automaker sent workers home on Tuesday night and canceled production shifts on Wednesday. The release occurred at a nearby MC Tank Transport Facility. Emergency crews issued evacuation and shelter-in-place orders after glycidyl methacrylate, a chemical known to irritate the eyes, nose, mouth, and skin, escaped from a storage tank.
While the interruption could affect the number of new Jeep Wranglers reaching dealerships, it’s unlikely to cause a shortage that will affect potential buyers.
Dealers reportedly have 156 days’ worth of Wrangler inventory, well above the 85-day supply they traditionally aim for. Days of inventory is an estimate of how long a dealer’s current stock of vehicles will last at the current sales pace. A large supply could give shoppers more vehicles to choose from while production is paused. It will also give the automaker a chance to shrink the number to a more manageable level.
As of now, Wrangler shoppers can check local dealer inventories and compare available models. If production remains paused for an extended period, supplies could eventually tighten.
