In order to continue pleasing customers in the Missoula, MT area and beyond, Chrysler continues to offer a wide variety of models within its new Chrysler lineup and all of the brands under the Chrysler umbrella. This is why it decided to boost engine production at its Michigan plants, adding a total of 298 jobs.
The main engine requiring the production expansion is the Tigershark. With an investment of $53 million, Chrysler will be adding an assembly line for it at both its Trenton North and Dundee engine facilities. This powertrain was unveiled in the Dodge Dart and will also become available in the new Jeep Cherokee model.
A total of $40.5 million will be invested at the Dundee engine plant, enabling the parts for the Tigershark engines like the heads, blocks and cranks, to be produced there. They will then be sent to the Trenton plant for production. At this facility, $11.5 is being invested to prepare the Tigershark assembly lines. Chrysler hopes that if all goes as planned, both of the new lines will be fully operational by the end of September.
Brain Harlow, Vice President and Head of Powertrain Manufacturing, explains, "With the growing demand for our products, we are constantly evaluating how to best meet powertrain production requirements. In this case, we are fortunate that we had an existing facility that could accommodate the additional capacity needs for Tigershark and one that has the know-how to support that additional production."1
To learn more about what Chrysler has planned for the future, we encourage you to visit our Lithia Chrysler Jeep Dodge of Missoula showroom. Our friendly staff would be happy to show you around and schedule you for a test drive with the vehicle that catches your eye!
Source: 1http://www.leftlanenews.com/chrysler-to-invest-53m-in-michigan-plants-create-298-jobs.html