We all agreed that if the vehicle was not ready, there would be no launch, we would delay. We are convinced we are ready. On the plant floor, the best manufacturing practices of Chrysler and Mercedes have been combined. The plant was designed in cyberspace before the first spade of dirt was turned. Flexibility was designed into the plant so new products can be added quickly.
Automation is used extensively.
Among 300 robots are those that apply sealant in a process imported from a Mercedes plant near Stuttgart. As a result, the plant needs about 1,000 fewer workers than a nearby Toledo plant that builds the boxy Cherokee. The mid-size SUV segment has been growing about 12 percent annually as rising gas prices have drained enthusiasm for the large SUV market, he says. Still, Jeep remains one of the best-known SUV brands in the world. You probably could fill that plant up in Toledo, no sweat.