After a long time, there’s an end rumored since 2015, however after 25 years, the Dodge Viper‘s death is nigh. Production of the $90,000 sports car is about to end. For that reason, FCA will be closing its Conner Assembly Plant on August 31.
It is being reported that the Detroit plant will be closing. The vehicle has been hand-built there since 1995, save for a hiatus in 2010-13 (production started at FCA’s Mack Plant in 1992). The Prowler was constructed there as well from 1997 to 2002.
Over 80 employees presently construct the Viper, making Conner FCA’s smallest assembly facility.
But few Vipers are sold – 630 in 2016 – regardless of an enthusiastic following. Obviously FCA’s own 707-horsepower Dodge Challenger and Charger SRT Hellcats and brand-new 840-horsepower Challenger SRT Demon can’t help either. However the final stroke is the fact the Viper can’t abide by new safety regulations going into effect.
The UAW has seen the plant closure coming at least since 2015, and FCA has told the state of Michigan that it anticipates to discover positions at other plants for the Dodge Viper crew.
FCA has been commemorating the Dodge Viper valedictory for a number of years now, providing serialized special editions, including the $121,000 Viper ACR, and promoting the ability to construct distinct Vipers with its “1 of 1” customization program, with an option of 16,000 distinct paint colors and 48,000 distinct stripe mixes.
