Chrysler News: Chrysler To Idle Mack II Engine Plant

[William Maley]

William Maley

Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com

July 17, 2012

Chrysler announced today that they will idle their Mack II engine plant in Detroit in September as production of the 3.7L V6 comes to an end.

The 3.7L V6 powered the Dodge Nitro, Dodge Ram, and Jeep Liberty.

The Dodge Nitro has already been shown the door. The current Jeep Liberty will end its run next month as the Toledo, Ohio plant where it’s built undergoes a $500 million upgrade. The Ram drops the 3.7L V6 for the 3.6L Pentastar V6 due out later this year.

About 200 employees who work at the Mack II engine plant have received received layoff notices but won’t lose their jobs. A Chrysler spokeswoman explained the workers will be moved to other Chrysler plants.

The Mack II engine plant was built in 1999, offering 650,000 square feet and assembled the 3.7-liter engine exclusively. The adjacent Mack I engine plant which builds the 4.7L V8 will continue on.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

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[G. David Felt]

Wonder how long before they retool the MackII plant for some new I4 Turbo engine or Turbo V6. I can see this getting used again within the next year.