Chrysler Cuts Viper Production by One-Third

Chrysler Group LLC has reduced output of its $104,500 SRT Viper because of slow sales since the redesigned supercar arrived in dealer showrooms in April, Automotive News reports.

Chrysler had been making about nine of the 640-hp Vipers per day at its Conner Avenue plant in Detroit. Now it will build six per day until inventories decline. The company is reassigning extra workers to other factories.

Chrysler sold 426 Vipers during the now-ended 2013 model year, according to AN. But the newspaper says dealers have 565 unsold units in inventory enough to last until next July.

Ralph Gilles, who heads the high-performance SRT brand, tells the newspaper that quality concerns about the two-seater stalled shipments to dealers until the car's traditionally strongest early-spring selling season was over.