Chrysler plants to resume production by late June

NEW YORK -- Chrysler says the majority of its plants will resume production by the end of June.

The automaker idled all of its factories almost immediately after it filed for bankruptcy protection to reduce its inventory.

The company said Tuesday its May sales fell 47%, but inventory has fallen. Chrysler says May was its best retail sales month yet this year.

Chrysler has been operating under Chapter 11 protection since April 30. Over the weekend, a bankruptcy judge in New York approved the sale of the bulk of its assets to Italian automaker Fiat Group. That brings the Auburn Hills, Mich., automaker closer to emerging from bankruptcy, possibly as early as this week.

General Motors filed for bankruptcy protection Monday.