Jeep Patriot Gets Ready to Roll Into Production

Belvidere, IL - The Jeep Patriot will begin retail production tomorrow at Belvidere`s Chrysler Assembly plant . The SUV is the last of three new vehicles launched at the plant within the last year. And in spite of recent layoffs and production problems, DaimlerChrysler officials say they`re ready for the additional workload. "We feel that we have optimized our employment levels and we have a solid efficiency level," says Michele Tinson, Communications Manager for Daimler Chrysler. "We`re very comfortable with where we are now." Over the past few months, the automaker has let go of nearly 100 temporary workers that were hired to help in the production of the new vehicles. But Chrysler officials say rather than make any new hires, they may consider moving some of the 2800 current workers over to assist in the production of the Patriot. "That`s a possibility always to just help reach plant efficiency levels," says Tinson. "All workers will be trained accordingly and appropriately to help manage each of these products." In the meantime, companies that produce parts for Chrysler, such as Oakley Sub Assembly, say they`ve been gearing up for the new vehicle for several months. While the company says they won`t need to hire any additional employees, they say they have had to make some extra preparations. "Anytime you go into production on a new vehicle in the type of manufacturing that we do, there`s a difference in tooling," says Michael McNulty, Plant Manager of Oakley Sub Assembly. "There`s a difference in how different items fit on different machines in the manufacturing process." The tire assembly company says current production at the Belvidere plant has them optimistic about the future of the Jeep Patriot line. "All of our budgets have been predicated on 525 units in an 8 hour shift," says McNulty. "In the last couple of days, they have been hitting that. To me it looks kind of promising right now." Daimler Chrysler says they expect 10 of the SUV`s to be done and in showrooms by January. The starting price for the Jeep Patriot is about $15,000.