Chrysler Group has
announced that it will invest $600 million in its
Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois to support the
production of future models in 2012, increasing its
investments in U.S. facilities to $2.1 billion since the
formation of the new company in June 2009.
The investment includes the construction of a 638,000
square-foot body shop as well as the installation of new
machinery, tooling and material handling equipment. Work
on the expansion began this summer and will be completed
in 2011.
“We want to thank Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, Illinois
Senator Dick Durbin, Illinois Congressman Don Manzullo
and Belvidere Mayor Frederic Brereton for working with
us to make this investment possible,” said Scott
Garberding, Senior Vice President and Head of
Manufacturing, Chrysler Group LLC. “With their help, the
Belvidere Assembly Plant will be expanded and retooled
in order to build the next generation of vehicles that
will meet the needs of our customers.
“More importantly, this investment recognizes the
support of the UAW and the role that our skilled and
dedicated workforce has played in producing some of the
finest vehicles on the road today,” said Garberding.
“Through the implementation of World Class
Manufacturing, Belvidere is transforming itself to
become one of the safest and most efficient assembly
plants.” The Belvidere Assembly Plant currently builds
the Jeep Compass, Jeep Patriot and Dodge Caliber.
"This is an important
announcement for Chrysler Group LLC and the UAW as the
company makes a major investment in an assembly plant
here in the U.S., thereby maintaining good manufacturing
jobs in Illinois,” said General Holiefield, Vice
President UAW/Chrysler Department. “This investment,
along with the strong relationship between our two
organizations, will contribute to the future success of
Chrysler, our employees and the products we so proudly
build."
Belvidere Assembly Plant
The Belvidere Assembly Plant was completed in 1965 and
produced its first car on July 7, 1965. The product line
from 1965 to 1977 included the Plymouth and Dodge
two-door and four-door models, and station wagons, and
the Chrysler Town & Country station wagon.
In 1977, the plant
was converted to front-wheel drive production. From
1978-1987, the product lines included Plymouth Horizon
and Dodge Omni. In 1987, the plant underwent a $367
million state-of-the-art, 16-week model changeover to
produce the Chrysler New Yorker and Dodge Dynasty, the
company's full-size front-wheel drive four-door sedans.
Two years later, the plant underwent a $72 million model
changeover for production of 1990 models that included
the Chrysler Imperial and New Yorker Salon. In 1994, the
plant was converted to produce the Plymouth and Dodge
Neon. Production of the Dodge Neon ended in September
2005. The Dodge Caliber was launched in December 2005,
followed by the Jeep Compass in May 2006 and Jeep
Patriot in December 2006.
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