Chrysler Ceases Production of Jeep Liberty SUV at Ohio Plant

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Chrysler LLC (Auburn Hills, Michigan) has ceased production of the Jeep Liberty sport utility vehicle at the North Liberty Plant in Toledo, Ohio. The last Jeep Liberty sport vehicle rolled off the assembly line on August 22, 2012. The second-generation Liberty model never garnered the approval of consumers, forcing the automaker to make some hard choices about the future of the Liberty, as well as the Dodge Nitro, at this facility.

Chrysler has begun construction on a $500 million retooling of the North Liberty Jeep Complex to make way for the new special edition model that will replace the Liberty. The 2.14 million-square-foot complex is undergoing a major retrofit and retooling, plus an expansion of the foot body shop by 267,000 square feet. Chrysler also will install a 25,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art metrology center, and retool and equip the current building complex by adding two assembly lines to manufacture two new car models, which have not been announced at this time. The result will be an overall increase in capacity, from 350,000 to 450,000 vehicles per year. The new model is expected to offer more chrome trim options, 20-inch wheels and blacked-out headlamps, and will begin production in 2013 as a 2014 model with a Fiat platform. The Jeep Liberty side of the plant is expected to be shut down for six to eight months as the retooling takes place.

In 2001, Chrysler started production for the first-generation Jeep Liberty that consisted of a four-cylinder engine that offered a lower price. That model was replaced in 2008 with a more mid-size look. The Toledo complex has been assembling Jeeps since the 1940s. While the North Liberty Plant is not operating, the South plant will continue to operate, assembling the Jeep JK Wrangler.

Chrysler Group LLC was founded in 1925 as the Chrysler Corporation. In 2009, Chrysler emerged from a government backed Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization as Chrysler Group LLC, with Italian manufacturer Fiat S.p.A. (Turin, Italy), holding a 20% interest in the Chrysler Group. In 2011, Fiat's stake was increased to 58.5% following full acquisition of the equity interests by the U.S. Treasury and Canada. As of July 2012, Fiat's stake was further increased to 61.8%.

Chrysler has been well on its way to recovery since Fiat took control. Fiat is integrating more of its platforms and reintroducing Fiat models to the U.S. market.

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