Fiat Chrysler Automobiles announced Sunday that they would be investing significantly in their Warren, Michigan and Toledo, Ohio plants (over $1 billion); a move that is expected to create over 2000 additional jobs. The announcement comes just days after Ford Motor Company announced its decision to scrap plans for a new Mexican facility, instead opting to increase investment in a Michigan plant.
This comes after competitor @Ford announced plans to invest $700 million in new American jobs last Tuesday.https://t.co/jU2Wyrexs1
— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) January 8, 2017
President-elect Donald Trump has, in recent weeks, been lobbying car-makers and other industrial enterprises to keep manufacturing operations in the United States — promising decreased regulatory red-tape and taxes, but also punitive import tariffs should they decide to move. The move by Fiat seems aimed both at leveraging those promises from Trump and building a “Made-in-America” reputation with it’s U.S. clientele, particularly with the Jeep brand of automobiles.
“Consistent and combined with previously announced investments, FCA US is further demonstrating its commitment to strengthening its U.S. manufacturing base, and aligning U.S. capacity to extend the Jeep product lineup … is a continuation of the efforts already underway to increase production capacity in the U.S.on trucks and SUVs to match demand,” helping to re-establish the U.S. as “a global manufacturing hub.”
While Fiat plans to produce a new Jeep pickup truck at its retooled Ohio plant, the company will continue to produce its Dodge Ram Heavy Duty pickup in Mexico. What do you think? Is this more good news for American manufacturing? Will the U.S. reverse a trend of decreasing manufacturing market share in the very near future? Let us know your thoughts on Facebook or in the comments below.
