• Production to End on Dodge Ram Van and Wagon After 2002 Model Year
• Plant to Build All-New Dodge Product Beginning in 2003 Model Year
• Announcement Coincides with Company's 75th Anniversary in Canada and Plant's 25th Anniversary
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Photo: DaimlerChrysler

From left: Rich Ray - General Product Manager, Truck Operations, DaimlerChrysler Corporation; The Hon. Al Palladini - Minister of Economic Development and Trade - Gov't of Canada; Susan Whelan - Member of Parliament for Essex, Chair, Federal Automotive Caucus, Gov't of Canada; Gary L. Henson - Executive Vice President - Manufacturing - DaimlerChrysler Corporation; Michael D. Hurst - Mayor - City of Windsor; Americus Crawford - Plant Manager - Pillette Assembly Plant; Tom Lesperance - Canadian Auto   Workers Union Local 444 Plant Chairman, Pillette Assembly Plant; Edwin H. Brust - Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer - DaimlerChrysler Inc., and Buzz Hargrove - National President CAW.

Windsor, Ontario - During groundbreaking ceremonies today, DaimlerChrysler Corporation confirmed an approximate $1 billion US ($1.5 CDN) investment for the modernization and expansion of its Pillette Assembly Plant in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The announcement coincides with DaimlerChrysler Canada's 75th anniversary and Pillette Assembly's 25th anniversary. 

Ground was broken for an estimated two million square-foot building, more than tripling the present 980,000 square-foot facility. The expansion includes the previously announced all-new $370 million (US) paint shop which will feature new manufacturing processes designed to improve flexibility, productivity and quality. The plant is expected to be completed by mid-2002. 

"This investment clearly represents DaimlerChrysler's commitment not only to our Canadian workforce, but to our aggressive product development plan," said Jim Holden, President - DaimlerChrysler Corporation. "We're very excited about the opportunity this provides consumers, our dealers and the Pillette employees." This announcement is the next step in DaimlerChrysler Corporation's focus on flexible manufacturing initiatives.  

Pillette Assembly is the latest facility to increase the flexibility of its manufacturing operations following Toluca (Mexico) Assembly Plant, Windsor (Canada) Assembly Plant and Sterling Heights (Michigan, USA) Assembly Plant.  

It was also announced that production of the Dodge Ram Van and Wagon will end at the Pillette facility at the conclusion of the 2002 model year. Following a short period of downtime for model changeover, production will begin in the summer of 2002 of a future all-new Dodge product. Details on the product were not given at this time.   

The Pillette Assembly Plant opened in 1975 and has produced the Dodge Ram Vans and Wagons since its inception. The plant currently employs 2,175 workers and produces 424 units per day on two shifts. Over 2.1 million vehicles have been built at Pillette since 1975. For the 1999 model year, 72,482 Dodge Ram Vans and Wagons were built at Pillette.

(June 15, 2000)