THE SNAKE RETURNS TO CHRYSLER
Conner Plant reopens to produce 2013 Viper

Chrysler Group LLC announced that it will reopen its Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit for the production of the next generation SRT Viper. With the plant’s reopening, Chrysler says nearly 150 jobs, both hourly and salaried, will return to the City of Detroit. The Conner facility was idled when production of the Dodge Viper ended in July 2010. “The next generation Viper will make its return to the product lineup in late 2012 as a 2013 model,” said Ralph Gilles, President and Chief Executive Officer - SRT Brand and Motorsports, Chrysler Group LLC. “We’re extremely excited that our ultimate American sports car will continue to live on and be produced exclusively here in the Motor City.” Current Chrysler Group hourly employees who previously worked at Conner were first offered the opportunity to return to their home plant, according to the car company. Chrysler says the balance of the positions will be filled by hourly employees volunteering to transfer to the Conner Avenue plant. Conner Avenue will begin building the new Viper in late 2012, but employees began reporting for training and orientation this fall. Viper production began in May 1992 at the New Mack Assembly Plant, then moved to the Conner Avenue site in October 1995. All Vipers that rolled off the line were hand-built in a low-volume, modular process. Over the course of 15 years, Conner Avenue employees built about 12 vehicles a day for a total of 22,070 Vipers.