The last Dodge Nitro will roll off the line at Chrysler Group’s Toledo North plant in Ohio later on 16 December. Chrysler spokesperson Patrick Hespen confirmed the news to just-auto in response to a question over the lack of a 2012 model year Nitro on the Dodge media website.
The Nitro, a rebodied Jeep Liberty/Cherokee, first appeared as a concept at the Chicago show in February 2005 and then, updated, at the Frankfurt show in September 2005. The production model was launched at the Chicago show in February 2006 and build started six months later. The Nitro was also assembled in Venezuela for a time.
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There is no direct replacement for the Nitro. Its place at Toledo North is likely to be taken up by expanded production of the successor to the Liberty/Cherokee. In November, Chrysler stated that the Ohio plant will be the build location for that model from 2013.
This week also marks the end of production for another US-built model, the Ford Ranger. The Twin Cities plant in Minnesota where it was built for almost two decades was opened by Henry Ford in 1925. The facility in St Paul-Minneapolis will now be shuttered.
Author: Glenn Brooks
