As part of the recovery and transformation plan of the Chrysler Group is the construction of a new engine plant in Trenton Michigan. Chrysler the maker of has recently hosted a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the future Phoenix Engine plant. The production at the new plant is scheduled to start by 2009. The $730 million investment will produce a new breed of fuel efficient V6 engine which is popularly known inside Chrysler as the "Phoenix" engines.
It can be remembered that last February Chrysler Group has announced that it will launched a powertrain offensive and the new engine plant to be constructed in Trenton is just one part of the plan.
Going back to the ground-breaking ceremony, it was attended by Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano, Trenton Mayo Gerald Brown, UAW Vice president General Holiefield, Chrysler Group executives, and other public officials.
Frank Ewasyshyn, Chrysler Group Executive Vice-President-Manufacturing said, "Today's groundbreaking ceremony commemorates an important growth milestone for Chrysler Group and for the City of Trenton. Constructing our new plant at this site also confirms the commitment of Chrysler Group to investing in the communities where we do business and supporting economic development throughout the State of Michigan. This new plant will enable us to develop products that are designed to meet changing consumer tastes for more fuel efficient vehicles."
The new Trenton Phoenix Engine Plant is located near the Trenton Engine Plant on Van Horn between Fort Street and Jefferson. The 822,000-square-foot Trenton Phoenix Engine Plant will have an annual manufacturing capacity of 400,000 to 440,000 engines.
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm said, "These engine plants help cement Michigan's position as the world's leader in automotive innovation and excellence and show what can happen when state and local governments work with business to make our state competitive. From investing in our workers to creating a business-friendly climate throughout the state, we are working every day to attract new automotive companies and other industries that will bring jobs and grow here in Michigan."
After the plant become fully operational, it will employ 485 full-time workers. General Holiefield, UAW Vice President who directs the Union's DaimlerChrysler Department said, "We appreciate the confidence Chrysler Group has shown in its workforce by this continuing investment in powertrain operations, which will help preserve good-paying manufacturing jobs. UAW members at Trenton are 100 percent dedicated to quality, and we're excited to participate in building the next generation of fuel-efficient engines for Chrysler's great line-up of vehicles."
The Trenton plant will also go for a competitive labor agreement that includes Smart manufacturing initiatives and flexible CNC-based machining, volume-bundled capital investment, volume-bundled parts purchasing and standardized tooling.
The Phoenix family of V6 engines will also reduce manufacturing complexity by trimming down the company's current four V6 engine architectures to one. The overall cost of the building, land improvements, and equipment would represent one of the company's largest capital investments ever made in the city of Trenton. The Chrysler Group has invested $4.4 billion for its Southeast Michigan manufacturing operations since 2003.
