Jeep Wrangler to stay in Toledo, Cherokee leaving, Wrangler-based pickup coming

THE MOTOR CITY -- Fiat Chrysler has made a decision to keep creating the Jeep Wrangler in Toledo, Ohio, transfer generation of the Jeep Cherokee into a closeby state and develop a Jeep pick-up.
The news comes after 11 months of doubt regarding the destiny of Wrangler creation in its historical house.
Details regarding the Wrangler and Cherokee were shared with Toledo plant direction this morning in reaction to to questions from Automotive Information, according to an unique interview with CEO Sergio Marchionne on Aug. 2 1.
Automotive Information has discovered alone that Jeep will produce a Wrangler-centered pick-up in Toledo, a shift which will soften the blow of a transferred Cherokee -- Jeep's bestselling car.
Jeep revealed the Gladiator theory, a Wrangler-centered pick-up, in 2005.

Marchionne stated the automaker h-AS "found a solution" to how finest enlarge creation of the Wrangler -- in Toledo.
Details of the strategy is likely to be declared after FCA's agreement discussions with all the UAW reason; the agreement expires Sept. 14. Individually, Automotive Information has affirmed the strategy includes constructing a lengthy-sought Wrangler-established pick-up, probably in 2017 or 2018. That car is under-development.
In the interview, Marchionne supplied some particulars of the rising strategy:
"We discovered an answer that adapts various other passions to us due to the method by which we are able to move some merchandise approximately," the Chief Executive Officer said. "It does not simply take a rocket scientist [to understand] that the only means I can maneuver around around the Wrangler is to transfer it in to the other Toledo plant."
An FCA spokeswoman said the firm wouldn't comment and the Chief Executive's estimates stood for themselves.
Marchionne has stated since January that he favored to keep Wrangler generation in Toledo.
FCA's Toledo Assembly Complex consists of two crops: one smaller body on frame plant that assembles the Wrangler and another almost new uni-body plant that assembles the Cherokee. Both lines reveal some some traditional components theatrical production, but otherwise function independently.
The program would need the uni-body plant, locally called Toledo North, to be transformed into body on frame construction. The redesigned Wrangler would start there.
Decline of the Cherokee is a setback to Toledo, which had sought to maintain the vehicle and enlarge Wrangler generation. Through August, the Cherokee is Jeep's best-selling car in the US, averaging 17,611 revenue monthly. Yet, that lesion could be salved if new automobiles to be added show as popular.
FCA's strategy would make sure that Wrangler generation would continue while the plant is re-tooled for the redesigned 2018 Wrangler. The mountain bike is just one of the automaker's most well-known and lucrative vehicles. Creation of the redesigned Wrangler and pick-up is intended to achieve 350,000 per year, according to providers briefed on the strategy.
The Cherokee would go, probably to Sterling Heights Assembly in Mi, or maybe Belvidere Assembly in Illinois. Both crops are capable of creating the Cherokee with small or no re-tooling, as the Cherokee shares a stage with all the Chrysler 200 constructed in Sterling Heights as well as the Dodge Dart constructed in Belvidere.
Converting Toledo Assembly to any or all body on frame building would solve another issue for FCA, Marchionne suggested.
It'd let FCA to re-tool Warren Assembly in Mi, where it makes the popular-selling Ram 1500 pick-up. Marchionne stated that, such as the Wrangler, he can not manage to lose creation of the Ram 1500 in purchase to re-tool.
"We nevertheless have Warren that is maybe not repaired from a manufacturing point of view," the Chief Executive Officer said. Marchionne said his two restraints are "that I can not remove a day of Wranglers, and I can not remove a day of trucks. Therefore I have to move them around."
A Wrangler-centered pick-up continues to be on Jeep enthusiasts' wishlist because the trade name revealed the Jeep Gladiator concept in 2005. The Gladiator was constructed on a Ram 1500 framework and shared Wrangler styling.
It's unknown if the Wrangler-centered pick-up will be Gladiator-sized or smaller, to take on the redesigned Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon, along with a possible Ford Ranger pick-up. Either way, the Jeep badge and underpinnings should enable it to market at a premium above these offers.
Unknown for now is what is going to occur to land the town of Toledo gathered to get a potential Jeep growth.
Toledo economic development authorities have sought means to close the price difference and keep Wrangler in its historical house. For a long time, Toledo had been quietly purchasing industrial property next to FCA's straggly Toledo Assembly Complex in situation growth was desired. To day, over 100 acres can be found nearby. That land may be created accessible for providers, or it may be saved for future growth of the existing Wrangler line.

It's possible for you to reach Larry P. Vellequette at [email protected].

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Making
Sergio Marchionne

Fiat Chrysler Cars
Jeep
Cherokee
Wrangler

Marketing

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01.09.2015
ID:2762

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