- 2016 Jeep® Grand Cherokee 75th Anniversary Edition marks important milestone
- First vehicle – 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee – rolled off the line on Jan. 14, 1992
- Jefferson North one of three FCA US facilities to call Detroit home
May 25, 2016 , Detroit – The FCA US Jefferson North Assembly Plant celebrated a significant milestone today when the 6 millionth vehicle produced at the Detroit facility – a 75th anniversary edition 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee – rolled off the assembly line. In its 24-year history, the plant has built enough vehicles to circle the globe one and a half times.
The 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine of the granite crystal Grand Cherokee Limited 4×4 roared to life around 8:30 p.m. as Jefferson North employees performed final quality checks and prepared it for delivery to a customer in Michigan.
“Reaching this milestone is a reflection of this plant’s commitment to supporting the continued growth of the Jeep brand around the world and playing a role in the comeback of Detroit,” said Curt Towne, Jefferson North Plant Manager. “Our employees are proud to be part of this unique time in the history of both the Company and the City. They understand that not only are they contributing to the success of FCA US, but they are proving that Detroit will always be the Motor City.”
To keep up with demand, nearly 4,500 people work at the 3-million-square-foot facility on an alternative work schedule, meaning three crews work two 10-hour shifts each day, six days a week. It takes a day and a half for a vehicle to travel from the body shop, where body panels are welded together, to when the vehicle rolls off the assembly line. In 2015, the plant produced 365,542 vehicles. Nearly 25 percent of the plant’s production is shipped to 135 markets around the world.
Twenty-four years of vehicle production in Detroit
One of three FCA US manufacturing facilities located in Detroit (the other two are the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant, home of the Dodge Viper, and the Mack Avenue Engine Complex), Jefferson North has been pumping out vehicles since 1992. Chrysler invested $1.2 billion to bring the first Grand Cherokee to market, which included vehicle research and development, vehicle engineering, and construction of and equipment for the new Jefferson North plant. The groundbreaking for the new plant was on May 31, 1989. The first Jeep Grand Cherokee rolled off the line on Jan. 14, 1992.
In addition to the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jefferson North also produced the Jeep Commander from 2005-2010 and began production of the Dodge Durango in December 2010. The plant celebrated the 5 millionth vehicle produced – also a Jeep Grand Cherokee – at the plant on Aug. 13, 2013.
The former Jefferson Assembly Plant, built in 1907 by Chalmers Motor Car Company, was twice the size of the current plant’s original footprint (3.6 million square feet compared to 1.75 million square feet, respectively) and produced a total of 8,310,107 vehicles in its 83-year history.
Details on the 6 millionth JNAP-built vehicle
In addition to the standard Trenton, Mich.-built 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine and Kokomo, Ind.-built eight-speed transmission, the 6 millionth Grand Cherokee has the following standard equipment – an 8.4-inch Touch Screen Radio, GPS navigation, Blind Spot Detection and embossed 75th anniversary logo on the seat. In addition, the milestone vehicle was ordered with two optional equipment packages – the 75th Anniversary Luxury group and the Off-Road Adventure II group. These packages include nine amplified speakers with subwoofer, dual-pane panoramic sunroof, leather trim seats, ventilated front seats, Quadra-Drive II 4×4 system, Quadra-Lift air suspension and trailer tow group.
About Jeep Brand
Built on 75 years of legendary heritage, Jeep is the authentic SUV with class-leading capability, craftsmanship and versatility for people who seek extraordinary journeys. The Jeep brand delivers an open invitation to live life to the fullest by offering a full line of vehicles that continue to provide owners with a sense of security to handle any journey with confidence.
The Jeep vehicle lineup consists of the Cherokee, Compass, Grand Cherokee, Patriot, Renegade, Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited. To meet consumer demand around the world, all Jeep models sold outside North America are available in both left and right-hand drive configurations and with gasoline and diesel powertrain options.
The Jeep brand recorded sales of more than 1.2 million units worldwide in 2015 – the highest total in its 75-year history – setting a global sales record for the fourth consecutive year. Sales of 1,237,583 Jeep vehicles improved upon the brand’s 2014 global record of 1,017,019 by 22 percent. In the U.S., sales of 865,028 units bettered the 2014 total of 692,348 units by 25 percent.