Jeep leads the way

Toledo Blade | Toledo Ohio - - The venerable Jeep made its name as a one-of-a-kind motor vehicle, so it's only fitting that the latest version of Toledo's signature four-wheeler is being built in a factory setting that is unique to the North American auto industry.

The fact that Jeep is leading the way with an innovative method of production at its new, $900 million "multi-factory" complex in North Toledo is good news for this city and its workers.

When a second shift is added on Sept. 25, the assembly complex will employ a total of more than 1,100 well-paid workers, which may surprise a public accustomed to discouraging news about this vital sector of the nation's economy.

As UAW Local 12 President Bruce Baumhower put it during Monday's open house, "So much for the demise of the United States auto industry."

With timely concessions from the union, DaimlerChrysler has put together an efficient manufacturing operation in which three separate suppliers contribute a share to the production of the redesigned Jeep Wrangler. The vehicle is then assembled by Jeep workers in an adjacent fourth shop.

Employees of Kuka Group of Germany build the bodies for the two- and four-door Wranglers, which are painted by workers for Magna International Inc. of Canada. The vehicle's chassis is put together by assemblers working for Hyundai Mobis, of South Korea, using axles made by Dana Corp. of Toledo. What's crucial for Toledo, of course, is that while the three main suppliers carry foreign names, the jobs are here. Had the union not agreed to the nontraditional setup, Wrangler production would have been moved to Mexico.

The complex, with 1.6 million square feet, also provides flexibility of another sort that could result in additional local jobs. It's configured so that other vehicles, or portions of other vehicle production, can be added.

The facility, which actually started production in July, probably would not have been possible without $200 million in financial incentives provided DaimlerChrysler by the state of Ohio. Translated, that means you, the taxpayer.

The complex is a fitting partner to the five-year-old Jeep North plant, where in early August Dodge Nitro sport utility vehicles began rolling off the same assembly line that produces the popular Jeep Liberty. Together, these plants represent the state-of-the-art evolution of motor-vehicle manufacturing in Toledo that stretches all the way back to the Willys-Overland Motor Co. in 1910.

The labor-management cooperation that made it all possible provides hope that the legend that is Jeep should be around, providing rugged transportation and quality jobs, for another 96 years.