ST. LOUIS-DaimlerChrysler Group (Stuttgart, Germany) is investing up to $1 billion in its St. Louis North and St. Louis South assembly plants to retool and modernize the facilities in an effort to both improve product quality and increase production line flexibility. The two manufacturing plants produce Dodge Ram trucks, standard pickup trucks, the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Caravan minivan.

"This investment clearly represents Chrysler Group's commitment not only to our work force, but also the entire St. Louis regional community," says Frank Ewasyshyn, Chrysler Group executive vice president for manufacturing. "The new technologies, process improvements and infrastructure upgrades are evidence of our continuing improvement in the quality of Chrysler and Dodge vehicles and the competitiveness of our plants."

Part of the investment will involve upgrading technology at the St. Louis South plant so that it will be able to manufacture multiple vehicle types on a single line. The plant will also be equipped with a fully robotic body shop.

Equipment, facility and process changes will begin in 2006. The plants continue production throughout the upgrades. The St. Louis South plant was constructed in 1959 and currently employs 3,200 people. The St. Louis North plant was built in 1966 and employs 2,300.