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Chrysler
Group Dedicates New Toledo North Assembly Plant and Celebrates
Production Launch of all-new Jeep® Liberty
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Auburn
Hills, Mich. -- TOLEDO,
OH – The Chrysler Group dedicated its Toledo North Assembly
Plant (TNAP) today and celebrated the production launch of the all-new
Jeep® Liberty produced there.
"Today's
event celebrates the opening of this state-of-the art facility,
the high quality production launch of the new Jeep Liberty, and
the hard work and dedication of the entire Jeep team," said Dieter
Zetsche, Chrysler Group President and CEO. "The people, product
and plant that we celebrate today are great examples that will ensure
the success of this company. Our roots run deep in Toledo, the home
of the Jeep. Our partnership with the community and our suppliers,
and all the hard work of the launch team helped make today a reality."
Zetsche
was joined by Ohio Governor Robert Taft, U.S. Congresswoman Marcy
Kaptur, Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner, about 2,000 Toledo Jeep employees
and other company, union and community leaders.
During the
event Tom Sidlik, Executive Vice President for Procurement and
Supply, and General Manager of Jeep Operations for the Chrysler
Group, along with hundreds of employees presented Zetsche with
the silver "Job One" Jeep Liberty – the first customer-level
vehicle to roll off the production line.
Zetsche
"test drove" the vehicle on a virtual tour that included off-roading
at Camp Jeep, a snack break and visits to all 15 Chrysler Group
powertrain and component plants that support the Jeep Liberty. After
the drive, Zetsche praised the high quality of the vehicle and declared
that it was ready for customers. Shipments to dealers will begin
this week.
Toledo
North Assembly Plant
As DaimlerChrysler's newest assembly plant, TNAP represents the
culmination of best practices from the company's worldwide manufacturing
operations for lean, flexible, high-quality production.
After
building more than 1,200 pre-production vehicles to validate top
quality throughout the manufacturing process, the $1billion facility
is ramping up production of the all-new 2002 Jeep Liberty ahead
of schedule to prepare for a summer market launch.
At
full production, TNAP will employ more than 2,100 team members,
and has the capacity to produce approximately 800 units per day,
or over 200,000 units annually on a two-shift operation. TNAP will
produce right and left-hand-drive 2.4-liter, 3.7-liter and 2.5-liter
diesel versions of the new Jeep Liberty for more than 90 countries.
"The production launch of the new Jeep Liberty at our new Toledo
North Assembly plant has set a benchmark for high quality," said
Gary Henson, Chrysler Group Executive Vice President – Manufacturing.
"As our newest assembly plant, 'New Toledo' is the culmination of
the latest manufacturing best-practices from our operations worldwide,
and like all our plants, it is a learning field for innovative processes.
We designed the facility to be flexible and lean, and we have 'error-proofed'
our processes to ensure top quality. It's also a great example of
incorporating new technology from our colleagues at Mercedes-Benz."
Chrysler
Group Plants That Support Jeep Liberty
Plant |
Location |
Products
for Jeep Liberty |
Dayton
Thermal |
Dayton,
Ohio |
HVAC
systems |
Detroit
Axle |
Detroit,
Mich. |
Rear
axle |
Etobicoke
Casting |
Etobicoke,
Ontario |
Pistons
for the 3.7-liter engine; die cast cases, adapters, dust covers
and housings |
Huntsville
Electronics |
Huntsville,
Ala. |
Body
controllers |
Indiana
Transmission |
Kokomo,
Ind. |
45RFE
transmission |
Indianapolis
Foundry |
Indianapolis,
Ind. |
3.7-liter
engine block |
Kokomo
Casting |
Kokomo,
Ind. |
Pistons,
valve bodies, transfer plate, piston accumulator, transmission
case |
Mack
Avenue Engine |
Detroit,
Mich. |
3.7-liter
engine |
McGraw
Glass |
Detroit,
Mich. |
Windshield,
front and rear door glass |
New
Castle Machining |
New
Castle, Ind. |
Front
knuckle assembly, shock clevis, front lower control arm, 3.7-liter
exhaust manifold |
New
Venture Gear |
Syracuse,
N.Y. |
Transfer
cases |
Sterling
Stamping |
Sterling
Heights, Mich. |
Floor
pan and all exterior stampings except for roof |
Twinsburg
Stamping |
Twinsburg,
Ohio |
Roof
stampings |
Toledo
Machining |
Toledo,
Ohio |
Torque
converters and steering columns |
For
further information, contact:
DaimlerChrysler
1000 Chrysler Drive
Auburn Hills, MI 48326-2766
www.jeepunpaved.com
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