The first redesigned Jeep Grand Cherokee has rolled off the line at the Magna Steyr manufacturing facility in Graz, Austria.
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DaimlerChrysler’s Chrysler Group and Magna Steyr have made a $US27.6 million (€23 million) capital investment in the reconstruction of the plant’s body and paint shops, in addition to significant production line flexibility improvements.
The plant is responsible for Grand Cherokee production for Europe and other world markets.
In Europe and markets outside of North America, the SUV will have a new diesel engine and two petrol powerplants.
The all-new three-litre V6 common-rail diesel engine is essentially a Mercedes-Benz unit – watch for this to appear in Magna Steyr-built Chrysler 300C sedans, the first of which is due off the line in the second quarter of this year.
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By GlobalDataThe Austrian-made Grand Cherokee will also offer the 5.7-litre multi-displacement Hemi engine and the proven 4.7-litre bent eight continues to be available as well.
DaimlerChrysler Management Austria worked closely with Magna Steyr in the preparation of the facility for the new model. The plant went through an eight-week tooling, equipment and manufacturing process changeover at the end of 2004 and into 2005.
The body shop was completely rebuilt, and 75% of the conveyor line and marriage system was replaced. As a result, the flexible production line is now equipped to build multiple models, while simultaneously piloting an additional model.
Magna Steyr is the only production facility for diesel engine and right-hand drive Grand Cherokee. The facility has produced the SUV since 1994 – about 300,000 units to date.
Magna Steyr also builds the Chrysler Voyager and Grand Voyager minivans and is gearing up to assemble the Chrysler 300C sedan and Touring wagon range with both diesel and petrol engines.
The Grand Cherokee for North America is produced at Chrysler’s Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit.
