Detroit— Workers at Chrysler Group LLC’s Jefferson North Assembly Plant cheered as the 5-millionth Jeep Grand Cherokee rolled off the line Tuesday, marking a major milestone for a factory that was once marked for closure.
“The fact that we’re even standing here says a lot,” declared Scott Garberding, vice president in charge of manufacturing for Chrysler.
“You guys have stayed focused through the tough times,” he told workers at a celebration to mark the event at the plant Tuesday morning. “Our challenge now is to keep that focus — to keep this vehicle at the top of the industry.”
The Grand Cherokee, the first product reintroduced after Chrysler emerged from bankruptcy in 2009, has won more awards than any other sport utility vehicle in history and has helped drive the Auburn Hills automaker’s rocketlike rebound in the U.S. market.