1,600 New Jobs for Fiat Chrysler in Toluca, Mexico State – 09 February 2010

Fiat is investing over $(USD) 550 million at the Chrysler plant in Toluca [19.2833 -99.6672], Mexico State, to produce the Fiat 500. Of these vehicles, 95% are slated to be exported to the U.S. With this investment, an estimated 100,000 to 130,000 Fiat 500’s will be produced yearly starting in the fourth quarter of 2010.1 4,000 new jobs expected.

Oh boy, I can hardly wait.

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Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

How is this a nail in the coffin? GM, Ford, VW all have plants down there. What I would have preferred is that Fiat would put that money into a plant on US soil, but I guess it was more cost-effective to that down there, thanks to our corporate tax rate and higher labor standards. At least if the car does well in the US (maybe, who knows?), it'll employ more US sales people and service staff.

I just came across this too: http://www.drtomorrow.com/lessons/lessons3/31.html

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- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

Chysler has been making cars and parts in Mexici since the 80's, at least. My '09 Ram 2500 was manufactured at the Saltia plant. Fiat 500 would be a cool addition to the US market...

Creates jobs down there so they don't come here and take American jobs.

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You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows - Robert A. Zimmerman

Another corporate tax Dodge ???

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

There was talk up here in Toronto last month about the potential for Chrysler to produce an Alfa Romeo in the Brampton, Ontario plant that is currently producing 300s, Chargers, etc.

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Jonathan

2011 Mazda2
2000 E320 4Matic Wagon
1994 C280 (retired)

My prediction is we will see some pretty interesting stuff coming out of the Fiat-Chrysler union. The big difference is that Fiat actually needs Chrysler to succeed in order to pull off its lofty mission.

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1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma

I reported this.

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You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows - Robert A. Zimmerman

The 500 Abarth will be very interesting, almost like a golf GTI. Top Gear had a lot of good things to say about it. I don't see how going to Mexico is a nail in the coffin...as mentioned above, many automakers have outsourced down south. Some do it well, some do not--all about the quality control.

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Are they actually going to sell them as Fiats or will the pull a Sprinter and Re-badge them as Dodges?

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1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."

As Fiats. The point is: Fiat can systematically transplant the product and expand in Mexico, yes, providing them with jobs and further eroding the general manufacturing climate in the US, which is bad enough.

Believe me, I am no fan of the UAW and I started in a union. The abuses I saw there were far worse. But when the industry gets moved down, it's not comibng back up.

I don't see the US becoming the world's center of cutting-edge technology, when other countries are pulling ahead of us, because we do not invest in future R&D.

They could have made that car in Belvidere, IL, which made small cars from the 70s to the 00s and did it with a very high quality rating.

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Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

Seems to me that Chrysler owes a big debt to the US taxpayers. Until Fiat pays it back, I say keep their stinking cars in Mexico.

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Question Authority before it Questions you.

A Fiat serviced by your friendly local Dodge service department? Corre por tu vida!!!

On the other hand, Mercedes is ramping up their production facilities in Brazil, but has committed to bringing C-Class production to Alabama. It should be interesting to see how many US C-Class buyers are going to turn their noses up at AL built C350s.

Seems sadly ironic that the "land of the free" is the most regulated and taxed places to conduct business. But maybe that's it's contribution to the free market: ensuring foreign competition.