Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is planning to repurpose a closed engine plant in Detroit to build a three-row Jeep Grand Cherokee sport utility vehicle for the 2021 model year, according to numerous media reports.
The carmaker plans to refit its old Mack Avenue Engine II plant for the job, employing at least 100 workers, according to the CNBC, the Detroit News and Automotive News.
The shuttered plant is located near Fiat Chrysler’s Jefferson North Assembly Plant on Detroit’s east side. The conversion of the plant to assembly would be completed in time to start production so Jefferson North could be retooled for next generation of two-row and three-row Jeep Grand Cherokees, sources told the outlet.
The Grand Cherokee is one of the best-selling and most-profitable vehicles in the Fiat Chrysler lineup. Jeep sold 204,479 Grand Cherokees through November of this year, down 6 percent from a year ago.
A Fiat Chrysler spokesman said the company is not commenting.
First Published December 6, 2018, 10:15 p.m.
