Chrysler Group LLC to Announce Major Investment in Michigan

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Chrysler Group LLC to Announce Major Investment in Michigan

Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, Chrysler Group CEO Sergio Marchionne to Outline Impact on Jobs and State's Economy

Investment Will Bring New 'Green' Technology to North American Auto Market

Auburn Hills, Mich. , Dec 15, 2009 -

Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and Chrysler Group LLC CEO Sergio Marchionne will announce a major new investment by the company in Michigan, and its impact on jobs and the State's economy.

The program will be held at the company's corporate headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan, from 11 a.m. to Noon on Thursday, December 17, 2009.

What: Event to announce investment in fuel efficient technology in Michigan

Where: Chrysler Group LLC World Headquarters, 1000 Chrysler Drive, Auburn Hills, Michigan 48326-2766

When: 11 a.m. to Noon, Thursday, December 17, 2009

Who:

Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm

Chrysler Group LLC CEO Sergio Marchionne

UAW Vice President General Holiefield

Dundee Village Manager Patrick Burtch

Parking arrangements:

Please use the World Headquarters Visitor Parking Garage after 10 a.m.

Exit I-75 at Chrysler Drive, proceed to the second light and follow signs for World Headquarters Visitor Parking.

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$179 million investment, new jobs headed to GEMA plant

Posted on Thursday, December 17th, 2009 at 12:21 PM EST.(Employee News)

Chrysler Group LLC will invest $179 million to launch production of an advanced technology, fuel-efficient engine for the North American market that will be built at the company’s Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance (GEMA) plant in Michigan.

The investment will create up to 573 new jobs industrywide, including up to 155 new Chrysler Group jobs.

The GEMA plant, located in Dundee, Mich., will produce the 1.4-liter, 16-valve Fully Integrated Robotized Engine (FIRE) for use in the Chrysler Group’s growing fleet of fuel-efficient vehicles. The FIRE engine is a collaboration between Chrysler Group and Fiat powertrain groups and will include Fiat’s innovative advanced technologies to reduce engine emissions and improve fuel economy.

“This is one more important step forward that demonstrates our intent to deliver on the promise of the Fiat-Chrysler strategic alliance and the substance of the road map we laid out in November,” Chrysler Group LLC Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne said.

“This project further demonstrates that Michigan has the competitive business climate, infrastructure and talented work force to compete in the global marketplace,” Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm said.

“We are pleased and excited with the I-4-liter FIRE engine loading at GEMA,” General Holiefield, UAW Vice President and Director of the Chrysler Group Department, said. “The UAW is committed to working with the company to continue doing everything we can to ensure this new engine launch is successful.”

Today’s announcement follows a thorough site selection review by the company and actions by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the village of Dundee to support the project.

Production of the 1.4-liter engine at GEMA will begin in the fourth quarter of 2010. The first application of the engine will be in the North American-built Fiat 500 that will go into production in 2011.

The Chrysler Group has two plants at the GEMA complex, located at 5800 North Ann Arbor Rd., outside Dundee. In addition to the South Plant, which will produce the FIRE, the North Plant, opened in October 2005, produces the World Gas Engine, Chrysler Powertrain’s naturally aspirated, four-cylinder engine family.