Record rainfall and flooding slows production at Detroit automakers

Record-setting rainfall in the Detroit area has slowed vehicle production.

Four Chrysler plants in Detroit and its surrounding suburbs were flooded Monday.

The company halted operations at its Sterling Heights Assembly Plant at 9 p.m. Monday night and released employees again Tuesday morning. Chrysler said road closings caused by flooding have slowed deliveries and caused high absenteeism.

Three other Chrysler plants — in Detroit, Warren and Sterling Heights — were running Tuesday morning, but at a slow rate. Chrysler expects to resume normal production at all four plants later Tuesday.

Ford also slowed production Monday at four plants in the Detroit area and at plants in Chicago and Kentucky because of flooding at Michigan-based suppliers.

Ford said all of its plants were running normally Tuesday morning.