Chrysler, the smallest of the Big Three, will close all 30 of its production facilities in the United States for a month: Tighter credit markets are keeping would-be buyers away from their showrooms, Chrysler says. Dealers are unable to close sales for buyers due to a lack of financing, and estimate that 20 to 25 percent of their volume has been lost due to the credit situation.Chrysler claims it is nearing the minimum level of cash it needs to run the company and will have trouble paying bills after the first of the year.Operations at the 30 plants will be idled at the end of shift on Friday, Dec. 19, and will not come back online until Jan. 19, 2009, or later. General Motors will close 20 plants for the entire month of January and cut back production by as much as a third in the first quarter. Chrysler dealers are voting with their cash; they are stripping a cash management account that finances future inventory in order to infuse cash into their operations. The cash...(Read Full Post)