Toledo lands Wrangler, will lose Cherokee - Port Clinton News Herald
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has found a way to keep the iconic Jeep Wrangler in Toledo, but it involves the loss of the next-generation Jeep Cherokee, according to a report Tuesday. The automaker plans to move production of the Wrangler to the north side of its Toledo Assembly Complex, where the Cherokee is currently made, and launch the Wrangler there. That means the company must find a new home for the the Cherokee, one of the automaker’s most popular vehicles. The decision was first reported today by Automotive News, which said FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne explained the rationale for the decision in an Aug. “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist (to know) that the only way I can move around the Wrangler is to move it into the other Toledo plant. A person familiar with the automaker’s plans said the automaker is unlikely to announce its decision until contract talks with the UAW are complete and until the company’s internal approval process is complete. Dave Sullivan, an analyst with AutoPacific, said keeping Wrangler in Toledo and moving Cherokee to another plant is the solution that makes the most sense for the company. Sullivan also said the automaker’s plant in Belvidere is best suited to handle the Jeep Cherokee, which is a big seller for the company. Currently, the automaker makes the Dodge Dart, Jeep Patriot and Jeep Compass in Belvidere. Source: www.portclintonnewsherald.com
