The logo of Stellantis, the name of the group born from the merger of PSA and Fiat Chrysler, can now be seen from afar in Detroit, the birthplace of Ford, Dodge, Packard and Chrysler.
The new Jeep assembly plant, built not far from another FCA site, is the first to open in 30 years in the former automotive capital of the world.
Read also:
Automotive: Stellantis reorganizes its sales network in Europe
Installed on the site of two old engine factories, the new, ultramodern, called for an investment of 1.6 billion dollars. Its production started in March to ramp up. Enough to employ nearly 5,000 employees currently, including 2,100 new employees divided into three teams.
This is where the Jeep brand assembles the new XL version of its Grand Cherokee, an SUV cut to accommodate seven passengers instead of the five of its classic version.
A response to the Ford Explorer and Toyota Highlander which dominate the seven-seater SUV market in the United States.
Their size (5.20 m long), commensurate with American 4 × 4s, will not open the doors to the European market for them.
Between them, neighboring Jeep factories in Detroit will assemble 500,000 Grand Cherokees per year.
A plug-in hybrid version of the SUV should also be launched in the coming months.
Temporary closures
While other Jeep sites have to temporarily shut down their production lines for lack of semiconductors, this plant will be spared.
The Grand Cherokee L, which prices range from 37,000 to 65,000 dollars, sell well and provide good margins, which explains their supply of chips.
This is good news for Detroit, which has come a long way.
The city had emptied of its industrial jobs over the decades, driving up the unemployment rate.
The city was even declared bankrupt in 2013.
