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Chrysler factories, offices, and testing grounds, 1925-2017

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Chrysler factories, offices, and testing grounds, 1925-2017

This section does not always include Hudson, Nash, AMC, Willys, etc; or Dodge Brothers before the acquisition. Years are production years and not model years. Some obscure past Detroit listings are courtesy of atdetroit.net

Motor vehicle Vehicle Classic Car Family car


originally compiled by Jim Benjaminson and
updated by the Allpar staff
using contributions from Thomas Mize, Bill Watson, Nick Taylor, and others.

Also see Empowered work teams and quality (2005); flexible manufacturing; and components affected by a wheelbase change

Current plants

Belvidere Assembly Plant

Put into service in 1965, Belvidere was named for the Illinois city (the Plymouth Belvedere was named after the hotel).

Belvidere plant in detail with photos • Factory photos: NeonCaliber, PatriotDart, Patriot, Compass

Plymouth, Dodge1965-77
Chrysler1973-77
Horizon / Omni 1977-87
O24, TC3, Charger, Turismo, Duster1979-1987
Dynasty, New Yorker, Imperial, Fifth Avenue1988-1993
Neon1994-2005
Caliber2006-11
Jeep Compass, Patriot2006-2017
Dodge Dart2012-2016
Jeep Cherokee2017-
Brampton Complex (Bramalea), Canada

Brampton Assembly

  • Built by American Motors; the 2.95 million square-foot facility and the Brampton Satellite Stamping Plant occupy 269 acres and employed around 3,800 workers in 2006. Production at the satellite stamping facility started in December 1991. The plant has built from 18,133 to 338,921 vehicles per year, with 1999 (second-generation LH series) being the peak year. [Numbers were valid as of 2007]
  • 1986-92 Eagle Premier and Dodge Monaco (Monaco started 1990)
  • June 1992-2004: LH models, all of them: Intrepid, Concorde, LHS, New Yorker, 300M
  • January 2004-: 300/300C, Magnum (through 2007), Charger, Challenger (starting 2008), Lancia Thema (2011-16)
  • The Kennedy Road plant, part of Brampton Assembly, has its own section
Center Line: Mopar Headquarters

Around 290 employees were working in the building in 2005. The functions were listed as "National staff functions, including sales and marketing, material control, distribution, facilities planning, and national and field depot administration." A separate parts distribution center (warehouse) had 700 employees.

Building Architecture Signage Real estate Mixed-use


Before the new building, Center Line contained the Mopar parts plant, training center, defense operations, and general sales offices, according to a 1957 listing.

China

FCA has 50% ownership of two joint-venture plants which build local Jeeps and Fiats.

Conner Avenue (small-scale specialty production)

Dundee Engine Plant, Michigan (formerly GEMA)

Originally set up as the Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance LLC (GEMA), the Dundee plant was created to make engines developed jointly by Chrysler, Mitsubishi, and Hyundai. In 2009, Chrysler bought its partners' shares. In 2011 the plant started producing 1.4 liter Fiat engines, both normal and turbocharged, for use in Mexican-made Fiat 500s and various Chrysler vehicles; these are expected to return to Italian production by 2016.

The plant is unusual in that most of the workers have college degrees, and were carefully chosen, the idea being that they would play a prominent role in quality maintenance and cost reduction. The plant has generally had high quality, winning Harbour Report awards for productivity (2008 and 2009) and quickly achieving Bronze status in Fiat's WCM system (2012).

In 2009, Chryler invested $179 million to start making the Fiat 1.4, and in 2010, it put another $150 million in to expand and prepare for new engines. It was officially renamed Dundee Engine Plant in January 2012. The plant was still making the 1.4, 2.0, and 2.4 liter engines in 2015.

Etobicoke Casting Plant, Toronto

Text Street sign Signage Sign Land lot


Etobicoke is the renamed "West Toronto" area, a large mixture of pure industrial and suburban housing. This plant was built in 1942, and purchased by Chrysler Canada in 1964; it was expanded in 1965 and 1998. In 2005, this plant employed 451 people to make aluminum die castings, pistons, and other engine and transmission parts; in 2010, there were just 280 people (236 hourly), all represented by CAW Local 1459, and the plant made aluminum die castings and pistons.

Residential area Aerial photography Property Urban design Suburb


Chrysler announced in August 2010 a $27 million investment to make front and rear crossmembers for future vehicles. Floor space was listed at 284,000 square feet, with a total 27.4 acres used and, in 2014, 500 employees.

Product Machine Industry


Jefferson Avenue and Jefferson North

Jefferson Avenue / Jefferson North page

The original Chalmers plant was built on Jefferson Avenue in Detroit in 1909, and closed in 1991. In 1933, a noted office and display building was built to front the thriving Jefferson Avenue factory complex; it was demolished in the 1990s. The nearby Jefferson Avenue North plant has made Grand Cherokees since opening in 1993, and was the sole source of Jeep Commanders. The plant made Dodge Durangos alongside Grand Cherokees starting in 2011.

Urban area City Skyline Architecture Winter


Kokomo / Indiana Plants

Kokomo, Indiana. The casting plant was around in the 1940s; three plants in the area (Indiana Transmission Plant I and II and Kokomo) all make transmissions.

Fence


As of January 2015, plants were:

  • Indiana Transmission I (Kokomo), six and nine speed automatics (e.g. for minivans, Cherokee)
  • Indiana Transmission II (Kokomo), five speed automatics (Wrangler, Charger Pursuit)
  • Kokomo Casting, cases and aluminum components
  • Kokomo Transmission, six and eight speed automatics (trucks, large cars)
  • Tipton Transmission (Indiana), nine speed automatics
Mack Avenue

One building is new; the other was a Briggs stamping plant, purchased and renamed to Mack Stamping, later gutted and rebuilt as Mack I. Mack Avenue Engine Complex. One plant currently makes 3.2 and 3.6 liter V6 engines and parts. Mack II is still idle.

Snow Fence Winter


Marysville Axle (Michigan)

Ground was broken in 2007, under DaimlerChrysler, using a joint venture with ZF to replace Detroit Axle, which dated to 1917 but had been modernized in 2001. The target launch was early 2010; the 700,000 square-foot plant was then expected to produce 500,000 axles per year.

ZF claimed that Cerberus did not live up to its end of the bargain after it acquired Chrysler, and left the venture. Fiat resolved these issues, buying the plant (which the city had taken over and tried to sell to another company). A source wrote, in mid-2012:

Cerberus was eliminating employees and sourcing equipment and lines from China and India, looking for cheapest costs; quality was not a concern. ZF had to go back and redo all the hard assets in the new plant.
Machine Auto part Engine Automotive wheel system Vehicle


Despite various gaffes and mis-steps as Chrysler went from Daimler to Cerberus to Fiat, the plant did open in 2010 and started making axles (there was no word on where suspension parts made at Detroit Axle moved to.) The factory is operated by ZF though Chrysler union workers produce the axles.

ZF's 2010 annual report noted, "In the USA, volume production of rigid axles began at the new production facility in Marysville, Michigan. Rear axle drives and bevel gear production are scheduled to follow in early 2011." The plant makes Chrysler-engineered solid axles for the Wrangler and Ram 4500 and 5500 (chassis cabs), and ZF-based Grand Cherokee/Durango axles (along with front axles for Rams); these are high efficiency designs that use considerable aluminum, quickly adapted due to time pressure since Daimler gave three years' notice that they were revoking permission to use their design. They use welded bearings. A Chrysler manager said it was "a great partnership" and that it was respectful and not one-sided.

Mopar also had a plant in Marysville for parts and accessories, in 1957 (start and end years are unknown).

Mt. Elliott Tool & Die

Built in 1938 and still operating. See our dedicated Mt. Elliott Tool & Die / Outer Drive page. Makes stamping dies, checking fixtures, stamping fixtures.

Saltillo, Mexico

Derek Strohl wrote that the Saltillo Assembly Plant was originally intended to replace the 1930s-era Lago Alberto, which had pollution discharge issues and could not be upgraded to use water-based paint. Negotiations with Mexico resulted in a compromise, and by the time the Saltillo plant was built in 1995, Lago Alberto had been largely brought into compliance, but it was closed anyway after Daimler's takeover. Saltillo builds Dodge Ram trucks, and was recognized in 1997 for producing the highest quality Chrysler trucks.

The Saltillo factory has a zero-discharge policy; the plant actually produces a surplus of clean drinking water that is put into the municipal water system. Wastes are treated on-site, with hazardous waste confined in a special landfill near Monterrey.

Saltillo Engine makes the 2.4 liter TigerShark engine (along with Trenton), and is the sole source for all Hemi V8 engines. The Saltillo South plant builds the 3.6 liter Pentastar V6 (as do Trenton and Mack Avenue).

Saltillo Stamping is in the same complex.

Sterling Heights

The relatively new Sterling Heights plant (with a neighboring stamping plant) has built the LeBaron GTS/Lancer; Shadow/Sundance/Duster; Daytona; Cirrus/Stratus/Breeze; Stratus/Sebring; Avenger/Sebring; 200/Avenger. It was slated to be closed by December 2010, but New Chrysler bought it from Old Chrysler, and it became the sole source of Chrysler 200s, with a new body and paint shop capable of making other models. Sterling Heights factory page covers the assembly plant (SHAP) and the stamping plant down the street.

In early 2017, the plant stopped building the Chrysler 200; and in early 2018, it will build the Ram 1500.

Toledo

Toledo Assembly Plants: details and photos

  • Old Toledo North: 1994-95 Dakota.
  • New Toledo North: 2001-end, Liberty; 2006-2011, Dodge Nitro; 2014-2017 Jeep Cherokee; 2017-?, Jeep Wrangler
  • Toledo South plant: 1986-present Jeep Wrangler; future Jeep Scrambler, Wrangler
  • Toledo Machining: actually located in Perrysburg, Ohio, it has 969 employees (as of 2013) and makes torque converters and steering columns [the products made were the same in 2015]. Thanks, Paul B.
Toluca, Mexico

Land lot Aerial photography Landscape Photography Bird's-eye view


Vehicle Car Auto part Machine


Reportedly one of Chrysler's highest-quality plants, during the Daimler years, the complex includes a stamping facility. It is expected to cease making Journeys and Fiat 500s in 2016-17 (model year 2018 for the Journey, at least).

Aries, Reliant, Magnum1984-89
LeBaron, Phantom coupes1987-94
Spirit, Acclaim, LeBaron1990-94
Neon1994-99
PT Cruiser2001-11
Journey2008-18
Fiat 5002011-7
Jeep Compass 2017-?
Trenton Engine Plant



Built in 1952, Trenton North has built air raid sirens, water pumps, V8 engines, V6 engines, and "Neon" 1.8 and 2.0 liter four-cylinder engines. It had been slated to close by 2014, but thanks to a 2012 reprieve, Trenton North is active again. In addition to making components for South, Trenton North has its own flex engine line, able to make different varieties of the 3.2, 3.6, and 3.0 V6 - and the Tiger Shark four-cylinder, as well.

Trenton NorthTrenton South

Valencia, Venezeula

Building Land lot City Landscape Urban design
The Carabob Assembly Plant, operated by Chrysler de Venezuela, S.A., made the Jeep Cherokee, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Dodge Caliber, as of early 2013 (this was reported by Chrysler after Caliber production in the U.S. had halted). In 2015, the comapny reported making the same three vehicles, including Caliber.

scook6 wrote: "The assembly plant in Venezuela was opened in 1938 and closed in 2002. It originally assembled knock-down kits, but later became a full assembly plant. My 2002 Dodge Ram was made there." Whether it is the same plant or not, Valencia started building third-generation Jeep Cherokees (Libertys) in 2007; it had been making various Jeep and Mercedes models."

Warren truck plant (Dodge City)

Warren Truck Assembly Plant story and photos

  • 1938-present: Dodge trucks (except 1972-1977, and B-vans) / Ram trucks (including Mitsubishi Raider, 2005-11; Dodge Dakota; and 1974-85 Ramchargers)
  • 2018 (?) - Jeep Wagoneer (possibly Ram trucks)

Bob Joye wrote that the Sherwood and Hoover Road plants were part of Warren; these made up the three Dodge truck plants under UAW local 140. Sherwood produced heavy duty Dodge diesels up until 1975, and Hoover produced specialty trucks for the phone company." There was also a Burt Road Export Plant on 12640 Burt Road.

There is still a Warren stamping plant.

The Warren plants are to give up pickup production to Sterling Heights and be retooled for specialty Rams and the Jeep Wagoneer.

Windsor, Ontario

A massive complex of production plants, engineering and testing facilities, and administration offices dating to the birth of Chrysler, with consistent investments from Chrysler Canada leaders.

Other plants

The Amplex-Harper plant made Oilite bearings and powdered metal products. Amplex itself was created to sell products created under Carl Breer's research division back in the 1930s.

The Maxwell plant in Dayton, Ohio was converted to become the home of the Airtemp Division which became Chrysler Dayton Thermal (after the sale of Airtemp in 1976), then Acustar Dayton Thermal, then Chrysler Dayton Thermal, then DaimlerChrysler Dayton Thermal, then Behr Dayton Thermal. They also worked for Chrysler Defense. Another Airtemp plant was at 14226 Schaefer Highway in Detroit. (Thanks, Gary W.) A. Rutky wrote that (we've confirmed this) the plant built in 1969-1970 for non-automotive Airtemp manufacturing was shut down in 1976; the current Corvette plant has been on that site since 1982.

Sport venue Stadium Urban design Race track Bird's-eye view


From a 1957 corporate listing:

  • Adelaide, Australia had an assembly plant for cars, trucks, and parts, along with Airtemp units and industrial engines
  • Antwerp, Belgium had a parts plant
  • Capetown, South Africa had an assembly plant for cars, trucks, and parts
  • Cocoa, Florida was a missile and space vehicle support plant
  • Cycleweld-Trenton made adhesives and chemical products.
  • Chrysler Foundry made engine castings
  • Detroit Forge
  • Detroit Tank Plant
  • Detroit Universal: universal joints and drive-train components
  • Geneva, Switzerland was headquarters for international operations
  • Greenfield Building for engineering research
  • Eight Mile Plant for body parts
  • Michigan Missile Plant
  • New Castle, Indiana for forgings and finished machine parts
  • Nine Mile Press for automotive stampings
  • Scranton, PA for tank components
  • Syracuse, NY for New Process Gear (transmission, differentials, and axle parts)
  • Winfield Foundry ("Detroit area")

From atdetroit.net:

  • Airtemp Division - 14226 Schaefer Highway
  • Burt Road Export Plant - 12640 Burt Rd (Part of Warren complex)
  • Clairpointe Pre-production Plant - 12217 Freud
  • Conant Trim Plant - 7900 Jos Campau
  • Detroit Universal Division - 6455 Kingsley, Dearborn (Closed around 1978; excellent quality U-joints)
  • Wyoming Export Plant - 6000 Wyoming Street
  • Hamtramck Assembly Plant and Trim Plant - 7900 Jos Campau ("Dodge Main")
  • Huber Ave Foundry - 6425 Huber Ave
  • Detroit Forge Plant - 6600 Lynch Rd
  • Eldon Ave Axle Plant - 6700 Lynch Rd
  • Mack Ave Stamping - 11631 Mack Ave (Currently Mack Avenue Engine Complex)
  • Outer Drive Stamping - 3675 E Outer Dr (Renamed Mt. Elliott and converted to tool and die making)
  • Truck Engineering Office - 6565 E Eight Mile Rd, Warren
  • Vernor Tool & Die - 12026 E Vernor Highway (Operations moved to Mt. Elliott / Outer Drive, 1970s)
  • Vernor Trim Plant - 12025 E Vernor Highway (Closed, 1970s)
  • Warren Stamping - 22800 Mound Rd, Warren; Warren Tool & Die - 8701 E Eight Mile Rd, Warren; Warren Office & Warehouse - 6565 E Eight Mile Rd, Warren
  • Winfield Foundry - 9611 Winfield St

Signage Gas Fence Company Logo


Other facilities

The company noted (2006):

Manufacturing Facilities:
14 assembly plants, 11 powertrain plants, three stamping operations and six technical centers in North America; six manufacturing affiliations outside North America (in 2014, they claimed a total of 37 manufacturing facilities, 23 in the US, six in Canada, seven in Mexico, and one in Venezuela.)

Test Facilities: Technology Center; Auburn Hills; Chelsea Proving Grounds; Michigan; Arizona Proving Grounds

Chrysler Group International manages the marketing, sales and service of Chrysler Group vehicles in more than 125 countries outside North America. Vehicles are produced at facilities in Austria, China, Egypt, Germany, Taiwan and Venezuela.

Canada has approximately 475 dealers, an aluminum casting plant in Etobicoke, Ontario; a research and development center in Windsor; and has sales offices and parts distribution centers throughout the country.

[In 2011,] Chrysler opened Mopar parts distribution centers in Shanghai and Dubai, which will support China and the Middle East. The Chinese facility will be in a free trade zone which can support 130 dealers in China and 20 distributors and partners in the Asia-Pacific region; it can also be a referral point for warehouses in South Korea, Japan, and Australia, which support 200 more dealers. The Dubai center is in the Jebel Ali Free Trade Zone, allowing parts movement through the Middle East and Africa.
Land vehicle Vehicle Car Motor vehicle Jeep


Joint Ventures:

  • Arab American Vehicles Company - Assembles Jeep Cherokee (Liberty) for the Egyptian market and Jeep Wrangler Military (TJ-L) for the Egyptian Army (Cairo, Egypt)
  • Beijing Benz - DaimlerChrysler Automotive Ltd. - Produces 300C and Jeep Cherokee for the Chinese market (Beijing)
  • China Motor Corporation - Produces Chrysler Town & Country for the Taiwanese market (Yang Mei, Taiwan)
  • Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance LLC - A joint venture with Hyundai and Mitsubishi Motors to manufacture 1.8-, 2.0- and 2.4-liter engines (Dundee, Mich.)
  • Tritec Motors Ltd. - Produces 1.4- and 1.6-liter gasoline engines for Chrysler and BMW (Mini) vehicles (Curitiba, Brazil)

Manufacturing Operations/Affiliations:

  • Magna Steyr - Contract assembly of the Chrysler Voyager/Grand Voyager, Chrysler 300C Sedan/Touring, Jeep Commander and Jeep Grand Cherokee (Graz, Austria) Minivan production stopped in 2007.
  • Carabobo Assembly Plant, DaimlerChrysler de Venezuela - Assembles Jeep Cherokee (Liberty), Jeep Grand Cherokee, and some Mercedes (Valencia, Venezuela). See main list above.
  • Wilhelm Karmann GmbH - Contract assembly of the Chrysler Crossfire models (Osnabrück, Germany)

Some manufacturing executives in 2007:

  • Frank Ewasyshyn, Executive Vice President-Manufacturing (was in the minivan program)
  • John Franciosi, Senior Vice President-Employee Relations
  • Richard Chow-Wah, Vice President-Powertrain Manufacturing
  • John Felice, Vice President-Advance Manufacturing Engineering
  • Bryon Green, Vice President-Truck and Activity Vehicle Assembly
  • Roberto Gutierrez, Vice President-Manufacturing and Assembly Operations, Mexico
  • Fred Goedtel, Vice President-Transmission/Casting/Machining Operations
  • Bruce Coventry, President-Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance
  • Alfredo (Fred) Antenucci, General Manager-Powertrain Engine, Foundry and Casting Plants
  • Warren D. Miller, General Manager-Stamping Operations
  • Brian Harlow, General Manager-Transmission/Axle/Machine
Past plants

Bowling Green, Kentucky (Airtemp)

D.O'Donnell wrote that Airtemp moved its non-automotive manufacturing from Dayton, Ohio, to a new factory in Bowling Green, Kentucky, in 1971. It ran through March 19, 1976, less than a month after Airtemp was sold to Fedders, and was eventually purchased by General Motors, which has made Corvettes there since 1982. The 1971 annual report notes that the plant was 600,000 square feed large, and "enabled Airtemp to increase sales of large commercial and industrial applied machinery and systems equipment in 1971." They boasted that 175 "major facilities" around the world had been air-conditioned by Airtemp in the past four years.

Chicago

Maxwell opened this plant in 1906. It was inherited by Chrysler, and after the war was sold to Preston Tucker. When his venture failed, it was sold to Ford. It is now half mall, half Tootsie Roll HQ. Chicago plant story.

Factory Machine Building Vehicle


Detroit Axle

  • Detroit Axle: Opened 1917, purchased by Chrysler in 1928, closed 2010, demolition started 2012 and was finished by summer 2017, when only the remains of the veteran's monument remained.

Architecture Building Company Facade


Dodge Main (Hamtramck)

The Dodge Main plant was demolished, along with a huge number of homes and prosperous small businesses, to make room for a Cadillac plant. Eminent domain cleared people off of the land, some getting ten cents to the dollar; the Cadillac plant never employed anywhere near the number of people promised by General Motors, which received millions of taxpayer dollars (and the land) to build their factory. Extensive Dodge Main history.

Naval architecture Architecture Sketch Vehicle Drawing


Dodge Brothers1928-1929 Plymouth (B body) 1964-1966
Dodge 1930-1964Barracuda 1964-1974
Graham Bros. Trucks1928-1929Dodge Charger 1966-1969
DeSoto Firesweep1956-1959Dodge Challenger 1969-1974
Lancer/Dart*, Plymouth Valiant1959-1975Volare / Aspen 1975-1980

* (Lancer 1960-62, Dart 1963-75 including calendar year 1976 production)

Dufferin Avenue, Toronto (1924-1929)

Opened by Dodge Brothers in 1924 to assemble Dodge Brothers cars and Graham Brothers trucks for the Canadian market. Closed when the Chrysler Centre plant in Windsor opened. Both
Dodge Brothers cars and
Graham Brothers trucks were made from 1928 to 1929.

Eurostar: Graz, Austria

The Chrysler Corporation/Steyr-Daimler-Puch joint venture plant in Graz, Austria built Chrysler Voyager starting in 1991, adding the Jeep Grand Cherokee in 1994; and, later, the PT Cruiser, Chrysler 300C, and Jeep Commander. Daimler purchased the Steyr-Daimler-Puch stake, then sold the entire plant to Magna Steyr in 2002. Minivan production ended at the end of 2007 and that was the end of Chrysler production in Europe until the Jeep Renegade in 2015.

The Austrian cars were sold in Europe, Asia, and Africa, with gasoline and diesel engines (mostly VM), with minivans made with manual and automatic transmissions, in short and long wheelbases, and in right- and left-hand drive versions (thanks, Karl).

Evansville (closed 1959)

Graham Brothers and Dodge Brothers trucks, 1919-1932; Plymouth, 1935-1959; Dodge, 1936-1938.

See our full Evansville, Indiana plant page

Vehicle Building Metal


Fenton, Missouri - see St. Louis

Highland Park

Brush appears to have been the original builder of the plant; Brush joined Maxwell and others to form the United States Motor Car Company, which later became Maxwell Motors. The complex became Chrysler's headquarters until the move to Auburn Hills. After car assembly ended, the plant built parts including the fluid coupling and torque converter for Fluid Drive and Fluid Torque Drive.

Brush?1910?-1913
Maxwell1913-1925
Chrysler Four (Maxwell) 1925-1928
Plymouth (Maxwell)1928-1929
DeSoto1928-1929
Fargo Truck1928-1929
Parts1930-?
Indianapolis, Indiana (Shadeland)

The Indianapolis Shadeland Avenue Electrical plant, opened to house Chrysler Corporation's new Electrical Division in January 1959, started out making distributors, with plans to expand. The plant closed in the 1970s.

Product Factory Machine Building Toolroom


Jefferson Avenue

See Jefferson North, in the active plants list.

Kennedy Road (part of Brampton)

Rambler 1960-?Opened in December, 1960 by AMC, it's now Wal-Mart's central Canadian warehouse. "135SOHC" wrote, "AMC assigned all orders for the Eagle to Kennedy Road to keep production at full capacity, with remaining orders assigned to the Kenosha plant, until 1983; all 1984 and later Eagles were built in Canada."
AMC Eagle (prime source)1980-1983
AMC Eagle (sole source)1984-87
Jeep Wrangler1988-92
Kenosha, Wisconsin

Car or lineModel years
Rambler (Jeffery) 1902-1918
Nash (same company)1918-1954
AMC (Nash+Hudson)1954-1982
Renault Alliance1983-1986
Diplomat, Fifth Avenue, Gran Fury1987-89*
Omni, Horizon1988-90*

It was built to make Sterling bicycles, but the Kenosha plant was purchased by Thomas Jeffery around 1900; it was the second factory in America, after Oldsmobile, to use an assembly line. In 1902, Rambler was the second largest automaker in the United States. The plant continued after Jeffery became Nash, and after Nash joined with Hudson to form AMC.

Kenosha started production of the Chrysler M-bodies - Diplomat, Fifth Avenue, Gran Fury - under contract when AMC sales were flagging. M-body production at Kenosha started in calendar-year 1986 (model-year 1987), allowing Chrysler to extend production, mostly for police and taxi use. Likewise, the Omni/Horizon, which had been slated to end production, were moved to Kenosha in late 1987, allowing them to have 1988-90 model years. AMC's main production had moved to Bramalea, which would later be used for the Chrysler LH and LX cars.

The joint production deal may have led to the purchase of AMC by Chrysler in 1987, but Lee Iacocca apparently enjoyed spending time with the company's Lazard Fréres mergers-and-acquisitions advisor; Chrysler also bought Gulfstream and part of Lamborghini during this period.

* Dan Minick clarified that M-body production was model years; M-bodies may have ceased production in calendar year 1988. Omni/Horizon production may have been calendar year 1988-90.

Lago Alberto (Mexico City)

The Lago Alberto truck plant in Mexico City was built in the early 1930s, and in 1987 and 1988 (at least) was making Ramchargers. In 1992, Chrysler Corporation decided to move production to Toluca and a new plant in Saltillo, partly due to the expensive of meeting emissions standards and partly due to the age of the factory. According to Derek Strohl, automakers negotiated a break for volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, and the plant was given until 2006 to bring its volatile organic compound emissions down to levels comparable to the United States. By 1997, the plant had electrostatic paint applicators, water running underneath the floors to catch paint vapors, and other such systems. However, plans for continued investment evaporated along with Chrysler's growth when the company was acquired by Daimler-Benz; in 2002, the factory was closed.

Los Angeles (1932-1971)

Sport venue Stadium Land lot Metal Landscape


Plymouth 1929-1964 Barracuda 1964-1966
Dodge 1946-1964 Barracuda 1969-1970
DeSoto 1929-1959 Challenger 1969-1970
Chrysler 1948-1960 Dart 1959-1971
Valiant 1960-1971 Belvedere 1964-1971
Lancer 1960-1962 Coronet 1964-1971

The 86 acre plant employeed at least 2,100 employees in 1965. Giles E. Wright wrote about the plant for the now-defunct Herald-Examiner (thanks to "Shoe" and the Los Angeles Public Library's Pamela Quon and Christina Rice for passing along the article and information), pointing out that the plant made 69 different models, using over 9 miles of conveyors; each day 30 railroad cars and 70 trucks dropped off their loads to the plant. Quality control was aided by an IBM 1710 mainframe.

In its first year, the plant made Plymouths and Dodge trucks. During World War II, the plant made over 40,000 aircraft engines, as well as B-17 and PV-2 cabin tops. In 1948, Chrysler and DeSoto production began; Dodge trucks stopped in 1949. Later, the plant made parts for the Douglas C-124 planes and Nike-Sparrow missiles, as well as building cars.

DeSoto production stopped in 1959, and Chrysler production stopped in 1960; Dodge and Plymouth remained. "Shoe" wrote, "The majority of cars built for California and southwest U.S. consumption were assembled here until its closure at the end of the 1971 model year (July 1971). ... its closure was due to lack of updated rail transport." [Los Angeles plant and photos]

Lynch Road

Land vehicle Vehicle Motor vehicle Mode of transport Regularity rally
The Lynch Road assembly plant built Plymouth, DeSoto, and Fargo vehicles starting from 1929; it continued to make Plymouths through 1980, when it closed. At that point it was also making the St. Regis and Chrysler cars.

Architecture Classical architecture Building House History
Along the way, Lynch Road built the Monaco, Coronet, and Charger, along with a host of Plymouths. Sections of the plant are reportedly available for rent by the current owners; the plant is currently occupied by numerous businesses which share the huge facility.

McGraw Avenue

Bill Watson wrote that McGraw Avenue was a stamping plant (oil pans, valve covers, etc.) next to the Wyoming Avenue plant; it was converted to glass production in 1960, and stayed in operation through 2003.

Melbourne, Australia

This was a Rootes Group plant, acquired along with the rest of the company by Chrysler; it became known as the Chrysler Rootes Melbourne plant and produced cars at least to the end of the 1970s.

Mexico City

See Lago Alberto, above.

Mound Road

Mound Road Engine in Detroit, Michigan was closed in 2002 after a 47-year run, with production shifting to Mack Avenue; both V8 and V10 engines had been made there. The Mound Road plant was torn down in 2003 and has been paved over and used as a storage lot for Warren Truck.

Vehicle Locomotive Machine Factory


Vehicle Machine Mass production


New Castle, Indianapolis

Created in 1907 for the three-year-old Maxwell-Briscoe company, New Castle was a large factory; it made Maxwell cars until 1911, when it was switched to parts production; in 1916, a forge was added. The plant was one of six original Chrysler plants when the company took over Maxwell in 1925. It was used through 2009, after being sold to Metaldyne around 2002, reportedly with roughly the same appearance as it had when built. Full story: New Castle plant.

Newark, Delaware

Closed in December 2008. See our Newark Assembly Plant page. Now an industrial park for the University of Delaware.

Plymouth and Dodge1957-1973
Signage Sign Building Winter Company
Valiant, Dart/Lancer1960-1964
Chrysler 1964-1971
Valiant1974-1975
Dart/Lancer 1974-1975
Volare / Aspen (F)1976-1980
LeBaron / Diplomat (M)1977-1980
Reliant / Aries including wagons1981-1988
Acclaim / Spirit (AA)1989-1995
LeBaron / Saratoga (AA)1990-1995
LeBaron Coupe (J)1992-1993
LeBaron Convertible (J)1992-1995
Intrepid/ Concorde
(overflow)
1994-1996
Durango / Aspen1998-2008
Portland, Oregon

Kaiser assembly plant created after World War II, still around but used for other purposes. The lobby is apparently being remodelled.

Petone, New Zealand

Todd Motors was Maxwell's New Zealand importer starting in 1924, and started assembling knockdown-kit cars during the 1920s, most likely after Maxwell was turned into Chrysler. The Petone plant cars had some local content such as wiring and trim materials; they made Chrysler Valiants from 1963 to their closure, and started making Hillman Avengers in 1970 and Mitsubishis in 1972 or 1973.

Rotterdam, Holland

The Rotterdam assembly plant (NEKAF) made both cars and trucks from 1958 to 1970.

Vehicle Car Advertising


St. Louis North (Fenton, MO)

The Fenton plant made trucks and vans; it was next to the "St. Louis" car/minivan plant in Fenton (see St. Louis, below) which closed on October 31, 2008.

The Fenton plant made B-series vans and wagons until 1980; it built the Dodge Ram (over a million of them) until July 10, 2009, when production was shifted to Mexico and Warren. The plant had recently won quality awards. Both North and South (car and truck) plants were torn down.

The Fenton plant had been the exclusive producer of RamBox equipped pickups, and had, in addition to Ram 1500, made V10 and diesel Ram 2500 and Ram 3500 models. Full story.

St. Louis South (Fenton, MO)

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The St. Louis plant was closed on October 31, 2008, leaving Windsor, the original and once again the sole minivan plant. The failure of the Chrysler Pacifica to gain traction coupled with lukewarm reception of the 2008 minivans sealed St. Louis' fate, and the property was sold and the plant torn down. St. Louis has built many popular vehicles over the years. A nearby truck plant closed on July 10, 2009. Full story

Photos of a LeBaron Convertible being built at St. Louis

Metal


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Plymouth, Dodge1959-1964
Valiant 1960-1965, 1973-1976
Lancer or Dart1960-1965, 1973-1976
Belvedere / Monaco / Coronet1964-1976
Dodge Charger (overflow)1968
Barracuda 1964-1965
Charger1968-1970
Volare /Aspen1976-1977, 1980
LeBaron, Diplomat coupes1977-1981
Caravelle coupe1977*-1981
LeBaron/400/600 coupes/convertibles1982-86
Aries and Reliant coupes1981-86
Limousine, Executive1983-86
Laser Daytona1984-86
LeBaron Coupe and Convertible1987-91
Caravan, Voyager, Town & Country1996-2008**

* Model year 1978 ** Model year 2009

San Leandro (assembly plant closed in 1954; continued as parts plant)

Plymouth, 1949-1954; Dodge, 1948-1954. Production ended during the 1954-to-1955 model year changeover as Chrysler Corporation sales had plunged. Strikes may have hurt production, but Chrysler had lowered production anyway due to limited demand, so the strikes may not have had an impact. The San Leandro, California plant was listed in 1957 as a parts plant. We do not have a firm date of closure.

Todd Park, Porirua, Wellington, New Zealand

Todd Motors, Maxwell's New Zealand importer starting in 1924 and therefore Chrysler's importer starting in 1925, assembled Chrysler Valiants, Hillman Avengers, and Mitsubishi Galants in Todd Park from 1974 to 1981. This modern factory, with a capacity for 30,000 cars per year (the population was then 3 million), replaced the old Petone plant. In 1986, Todd sold the plant to Mitsubishi, which closed it during the 1990s or 2000s.

The platn was reportedly environmentally friendly, and could make anything from minicars to limousines to commercial utility trucks. The company made not only Chrysler (including Hillman) cars, but also Datsuns and Mitsubishis.

Tonsley Park, Australia

A $36 million plant that produced 50,000 cars per year at first, Tonsley Park was a huge investment for Chrysler in the mid-1950s, given their mediocre sales over the years (starting with locally bodied cars assembled by T.J. Richards). Construction begain in 1956. The plant made American and Australian design Valiants (including Chargers and Pacers) and small numbers of other cars. It was also Chrysler Australia's (and then Mitsubishi Australia's) engineering and styling center.

The plant was sold, along with all Chrysler Australia assets, to Mitsubishi, in 1980. The last Valiant was produced in August, 1981. Former Chrysler engineers went on to develop the Mitsubishi Diamonte. The plant was later shut down by Mitsubishi.

Urban design Architecture Photography Building City


Twinsburg, Ohio

Stamping plant, opened in 1956, closed in 2011. Twinsburg stamping plant page with active-status and demolition photos.

Warren Avenue DeSoto / Graham-Paige plant

  • 1920-22 to 1940s: Paige, Jewett, Graham-Paige cars
  • World War II: aircraft components
  • DeSoto 1947 [possibly earlier]-1958
  • Imperial 1959-1961
  • Small parts production and export operations, 1961-196? (Chrysler claims mid-60s and 1962, alternatively)
  • Full story and photos
Wyoming Avenue

Built by the Saxon Motor Corporation (a small car backed by Hugh Chalmers) in 1919, it was purchased by GM for exports after Saxon went under; GM sold it to Chrysler in 1934, and it was converted and expanded for car assembly in calendar-year 1936.

  • DeSoto - 1936-1958
  • Export production (CKD) from 1960 through 1980.
Key factory pages at Allpar

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Also see... Factory photos: 2009 Dodge Ram - 1995 Neon - Chrysler LeBaron Convertible - Newark Assembly Plant

Working at the plant: <a name="factory"></a>Dave Tyjeski (2009), Bill Wetherholt (2009), Matt Wetherholt (2009), Views (2002), Teamwork (1998)

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