Daimler-Chrysler Planning Major Investment in Missouri Operations

Plans are starting to be unveiled for a Billion dollar investment by Chrysler into its two factories in St. Louis County. An executive for Daimler-Chrysler has told the Fenton Board of Aldermen the investment will be made if the city, the state, the county, and the United Auto Workers come through with incentives. The executive says Chrysler will initially invest $531-Million over four years to modernize both plants. Plans call for an additional $377-Million investment in the South assembly plant that employs more than 3,000 workers who make the Dodge Caravan, Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans. The executive says the plant cannot be competitive without the investment. Finally, about $154-Million would be put into the North assembly plant that employs more than 2,000 workers, making Dodge Ram pickups.