You know, the more we think about the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, we can only assume that things must be going pretty well for the brass at Jeep these days. After all, it isn't every day that one of our favorite automakers takes one of our favorite models here at Lithia Chrysler Jeep of Reno and gives it such a head-turning exterior overhaul. Since they're certainly not crazy, they clearly must be onto something.
Further confirming our suspicions is the latest news regarding their auto plant in Toledo, OH.
For those who remember, the Jeep execs announced in 2011 that they would be investing a cool $72 million into the said plant in order to begin production on eight- and nine-speed torque converters for automatic transmissions. And while the work won't be completed until Q3 of this year, Jeep has recently decided to invest an additional $19.6 million into the plant in order to bolster the capacity of their nine-speed transmissions.
"The new nine-speed transmission is a critical part of our strategy to meet fuel economy requirements over the next several years," says Scott Garberding, Senior Vice President of Manufacturing at Chrysler Group LLC. "Securing this additional investment is a testament to the dedication and commitment of the plant's workforce and helps secure its future long-term."1
Not only does that mean more nine-speed transmissions for the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and the 2013 Chrysler 200, but it also means employment for 1,000 new workers. All in all, Jeep is reporting that it will ultimately spend somewhere around $374 million on the Toledo facility alone.
Like we said, they really must be onto something.
So if you'd like to see what all the fuss is about with these nine-speed transmissions, feel free to try one out for yourself with a test drive at our dealership here in Reno, NV. All these millions must count for something, right?
Source: 1http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/28/chrysler-investing-20m-in-toledo-plant-to-support-9-speed-auto/