Fiat Chrysler considers moving Wrangler production out of Toledo; city resists

Fiat Chrysler is considering moving Wrangler production out of Toledo so that they can concentrate exclusively on the aluminium body design. The local union leader hopes that the state and city will come up with a suitable package for the company to prevent them from moving Jeep Wrangler’s production out of the area.

CEO Sergio Marchionne had expressed the company’s interests to move the Wrangler’s production out of the Toledo plant since it would be too costly to build the aluminium bodied vehicle along with the Jeep Cherokee that is already built in that plant.

Toledo leaders are hoping to hold onto the company and had delivered incentive packages to the company executives two weeks ago.

Bruce Baumhower, president of United Auto Workers Local 12 in Toledo, says "I think the city, the county, the port authority, the state of Ohio have put together a very attractive package that answers all of Sergio's concerns," as he feels the Wrangler is "ours to lose."

Despite the company’s assurance that employment will remain the same even if they move the Wrangler production, the city is eager to hold onto them. In recent months the city even purchased additional 32 acres land next to the Jeep assembly plant in case they need more space to build a new plant.

It will be a few weeks before Fiat Chrysler announces their final decision while the city awaits their verdict with bated breaths.