Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said last week that Chrysler’s Jefferson North assembly plant to add around 1,000 new jobs to support production of the new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, which has not yet gone on sale.
Chrysler is banking on the success of the new iteration of its iconic SUV, which sold more than 300,000 vehicles in 1999 but has seen its sales dip in recent years due to higher gas prices and greater competition from foreign automakers.
According to the company, the new SUV will get 23 m.p.g. on the highway, which is more fuel-efficient than the current vehicle.
