Autoblog

Marchionne insists Jeep Wrangler to stay American-made

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:31:00 EST

In the wholly owned Fiat stable are its eponymous brand, along with Lancia, Abarth, Maserati and Alfa Romeo - plus, as of relatively recently, all of the Chrysler brands. According to Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne, of all of those brands, the one with the greatest global cachet is Jeep. Marchionne believes that Alfa had global chops as well, but Jeep remains "first and foremost."

And while Marchionne remains keen on creating global production synergies with his expanding automotive empire, there is at least one sacred cow. According to a new Ward's Auto report, the compulsively sweater-clad CEO has a few words that will make builders of the Jeep Wrangler in Toledo happy - he thinks the legendary SUV's American heritage is too important to risk assembling it in any other country. This is heartening news, as recent chatter had referred to growing global demand putting a strain on the Ohio plant, leading some to think that a satellite production facility could be established elsewhere in the world.

Marchionne insists Jeep Wrangler to stay American-made originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Obama hears it from Jeep employees after underestimating Wrangler

Aaron Richardson — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 16:03:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Jeep, Off-Road

Obama talks to Jeep workers in Toledo, Ohio - Click above to view video after the jump

The Jeep Wrangler is renowned for its off-road capabilities. With recent updates, it has evolved from a slightly crude utilitarian workhorse, to a utilitarian workhorse with a long list of comfort options. To say the workers in Toledo, Ohio who assemble the trucks are proud of what they do is an understatement. They're fanatical about their work.

So, when President Obama jokingly questioned the Wrangler's capabilities this week, some workers didn't laugh. The President was in Toledo to take credit for Chrysler repaying money owed to the federal government for the bailout. During his speech, he said Chrysler had faced bumps in the road that even a Wrangler couldn't drive over. Jeep workers immediately voiced their consternation, and the president defused the situation with a joke. To see excerpts of Obama's Chrysler appearance, check out the video after the jump.

Continue reading Obama hears it from Jeep employees after underestimating Wrangler

Obama hears it from Jeep employees after underestimating Wrangler originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 05 Jun 2011 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Chrysler delays planned expansion of Toledo plant

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 14:02:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, Chrysler, Jeep, Fiat

It's no secret that Chrysler's future plans are in a constant state of flux right now. After all, the automaker just went through a ridiculously fast bankruptcy where bits and pieces were shed before stewardship was handed over to Italy's Fiat. It's only natural that Chrysler's new management would need some time to get itself organized.

According to The Toledo Blade, Chrysler decisionmakers are still up in the air as to how the Toledo North Assembly Plant figures into the company's future roadmap. Previously, Chrysler said the Ohio facility would build three new SUVs based on Fiat's C-Evo platform to replace the Jeep Liberty and Dodge Nitro.

Apparently, however, Chrysler has three plants that could build the new 'utes - Toledo, Belvedere, Illinois and Sterling Heights, Michigan. The reality is that the Pentastar really only needs two of them to handle the project. Alternately, all three could build the vehicles using fewer shifts. At this point, it's anyone's guess which, if any, of these facilities will be left out in the cold, and what the resulting employee impact will be.

[Source: The Toledo Blade]

Report: Chrysler delays planned expansion of Toledo plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 18 Jul 2010 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Toledo wants off-road playground on site of original Jeep plant

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 09:31:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler, Jeep, Off-Road

The Jeep Wrangler turns 71 next year, and the city of Toledo, Ohio wants to celebrate the anniversary. Well, let's back up a bit: the first iteration of the Willys MB was penned in 1940. That would turn into the first Jeep, produced in the company's Toledo factory, in 1941. And so next year is really considered the 70th anniversary of the Jeep Wrangler.

Not that one digit matters too much - the Jeep has been around, done its time, and deserves a proper bash. The Jeep Parkway Plant was torn down in 2006, and according to the Toledo Blade, city residents are working on a plan to create an off-road course as a birthday present and lasting playground with the requisite bogs and obstacles for the go-anywhere convertible.

A few small items still stand in the way, however - such as procuring the land, paying for the construction, and then letting the world know such a place exists. The city would like Chrysler to introduce the Wrangler's interior refresh in Toledo to help with promotion, but no such commitment has been made yet. Nevertheless, both Toledo and the Jeep have gotten around larger impediments, so there's still hope.

[Source: Toledo Blade]

Report: Toledo wants off-road playground on site of original Jeep plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Apr 2010 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler considering four-day work week at Toledo Jeep plant

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Plants/Manufacturing, Dodge, Jeep, Earnings/Financials

Jeep sales are down. They're way down, in fact, posting a 44-percent drop in their daily sales rate last month. Though the larger 'utes are really dragging down sales, even the once-untouchable Wranger has been feeling the sting of escalating fuel prices, as its blocky shape and 3.8-liter V6 engine conspire to deliver awful fuel mileage. Also selling rather slowly are the Jeep Liberty and Dodge Nitro, which are assembled at the same plant in Northwest-Ohio. In an effort to save costs, Chrysler officials are considering reducing the work-week at the Toledo plant from the normal five days down to four and allowing its workers to stay on for ten-hour shifts. While that total still equals the forty-hours from a five-day, eight-hour per day work-week, Chrysler believes it can save on energy and fuel costs by shuttering the plant for an extra day.

[Source: 13abc.com]

Chrysler considering four-day work week at Toledo Jeep plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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