Cummins cites loss of Chrysler business in closing Indiana plant, laying off 690 workers

Cummins laying off 690 with Indiana plant closing

COLUMBUS, Ind. — Chrysler’s production shutdown is causing Cummins to temporarily close a southern Indiana plant that makes diesel engines for Dodge Ram pickup trucks.

Columbus, Ind.-based Cummins Inc. expects to lay off about 690 workers this month from its Columbus MidRange Engine Plant. Cummins plans to move about 80 others who work at the plant to other jobs within the company.

Cummins engine business president Jim Kelly says the plant’s production is nearly all for Chrysler, so without that it is not feasible to keep the plant running. Cummins expects to reopen the plant when Chrysler resumes truck production.

Cummins plans unrelated layoffs of about 100 hourly workers in June from other plants in Columbus and nearby Seymour.