Chrysler Group LLC CEO Sergio Marchionne will announce the addition of a third shift at the company's Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois next week, adding approximately 1,100 jobs at the factory to support production of new vehicles based on the same platform as the recently unveiled Dodge Dart, according to people with direct knowledge of the plan.
Those jobs will likely not be added for several months. They are in addition to about 500 temporary and part-time positions the company has already begun filling to support production of the Dart, which goes on sale this spring.
"Those folks will be on the job by the end of April," said Chrysler spokeswoman Jodi Tinson. She would not comment on the third crew.
It will be part of a transition to a new rotating shift system that has proven controversial at other Chrysler factories. Tinson said that system allows the company to better utilize its installed production capacity.
Marchionne is expected to make the announcement on the additional shift Thursday when he visits the plant to officially inaugurate production of the all-new Dart, a compact based on the same platform as the Alfa Romeo Giuletta.
The decision to bring on the third shift, which had been anticipated for some time, was first reported by the Wall Street Journal on Friday.
Chrysler agreed to add thousands of jobs as part of its agreement on a new national contract with the United Auto Workers last fall. The company recently announced plans to add a third shift at its Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit in 2013 and has also committed to new hiring at its Jeep assembly plant in Toledo.
Chrysler unveiled the 2013 Dodge Dart at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this month. It replaces the Dodge Caliber, which also was built in Belvidere. Production of the Caliber ended in December, but the Illinois assembly plant still produces two Jeep models: the Compass and the Patriot. It currently employs some 2,700 workers on two shifts.
The Fiat-Chrysler group has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the plant to support assembly of the Dart and other future products.
Chrysler said those interested in applying for a new assembly line job should fill out an application at www.hourlychryslerjobs.com.
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