Toledo plant might get more work, three shifts

Larry P. Vellequette wrote that Ohio officials and UAW workers have confirmed Chrysler’s negotiations to expand the Toledo plant’s operations, possibly adding up over a thousand new jobs if two new shifts are added. While 220 workers are currently laid off, the expansion and extra shifts could result in 1,700 new workers being hired, most at around $14 per hour.

The expansion would probably take place at Toledo North, where the Jeep Liberty and Dodge Nitro are currently made. The plant employs about 950 hourly workers on one shift, but it is one of Chrysler’s most flexible manufacturing facilities.

Next door, another plant builds the Jeep Wrangler, using two shifts and 1,300 people; the body-on-frame Wrangler cannot be made alongside a unit-body SUV or car.

According to Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne, the key to Chrysler’s future is using a common platform under numerous cars and SUVs; determining the needs and desired outcomes for shared platforms was a goal of Project D under Cerberus. Due to its flexibility, Toledo North could build numerous apparently completely different cars and trucks at once using the same key dimensions. If one type of vehicle, such as a small pickup or SUV, started doing very well, they could boost production of that one and cut production of, say, a slow-selling sports coupe.

The next Jeep Liberty, due in the 2013 model year, is to use a Fiat platform (set of dimensions) along with at least seven products cars and crossovers. The Liberty, crossovers, and cars are being engineered by Chrysler in Michigan, using the Fiat dimensions; there is some sharing of components and electrical architectures, but the cars will be almost completely different from existing Fiats. They will use Chrysler engines and transmissions, aside from a Fiat dual-clutch automatic.

Marchionne, along with many analysts, said that the company would be more profitable if it had fewer, more flexible plants, running around the clock.

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