Chrysler Boosts Tigershark Production at Engine Plants

Chrysler will spend $52 million to increase engine output at two engine plants and add nearly 300 jobs at both locations.

The auto maker will invest $11.5 million in its Trenton, MI, North engine assembly plant to add an assembly line to build 4-cyl. Tigershark powerplants. The factory recently was revamped to build new 3.2L engines for the Jeep Cherokee and also builds components for the Pentastar V-6.

Chyrsler is investing $40.5 million at its Dundee, MI, engine plant to convert a line there to machine cranks, heads and blocks and also support Tigershark production at Trenton North. Dundee currently builds 1.4L, 2.0L and 2.4L engines used in the majority of Fiat, Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep compact and midsize models.

Chrysler’s Tigershark family of engines, which include a 2.0L engine and a new-for-’14 2.4L, are used in the Dodge Dart and will be available in the Cherokee. Both are key volume vehicles for the auto maker.

Production on both lines is expected to begin at the end of the third quarter, Chrysler says.

“With the growing demand for our products, we are constantly evaluating how to best meet powertrain production requirements,” Brian Harlow, vice president -powertrain manufacturing, says in a news release.

“In this case, we are fortunate that we had an existing facility that could accommodate the additional capacity needs for Tigershark and one that has the know-how to support that additional production.”