FCA US LLC is a North American automaker based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It designs, manufactures and sells or distributes vehicles under the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, FIAT and Alfa Romeo brands, as well as the SRT performance designation. The company also distributes Mopar and Alfa Romeo parts and accessories.
FCA US is building upon the historic foundations of Chrysler Corp., established in 1925 by industry visionary Walter P. Chrysler, and Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino (FIAT), founded in Italy in 1899 by pioneering entrepreneurs, including Giovanni Agnelli.
Its presence in Boone County dates back to the mid-1960s. Construction of the Belvidere Assembly Plant began in 1964 and the first car was produced on July 7, 1965.
“Boone County is important to FCA US because it is committed to delivering services that will help attract investment, allowing businesses to flourish,” said Mike Bennett, manager, federal and state government affairs for FCA US. “It is what has allowed us to invest more than $1 billion into the Belvidere Assembly Plant since 2009.”
Over the years, some of the company’s most successful products have been produced at the Belvidere Assembly Plant, including the Chrysler New Yorker and Dodge Neon. That legacy continues with the Jeep Cherokee, which was relocated from Toledo, Ohio, to Belvidere
in 2017.
FCA US announced plans to invest $350 million in Belvidere Assembly to retool it to produce the Jeep Cherokee in 2016. The move was part of a broader plan to help the company expand the Jeep brand and respond to a market shift toward SUVs. The Jeep Cherokee is an award-winning product that offers best-in-class capability and up to 30 miles per gallon on the highway.
Belvidere was awarded bronze status for its results in implementing World Class Manufacturing in 2016. WCM is a methodology that focuses on eliminating waste, increasing productivity and improving quality and safety in a systematic and organized way. The year before, the new Belvidere body shop was awarded a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Green Building System certification for meeting the highest environmental standards.
“Equally important to our operations and the people that work there is that Boone County is a welcoming place to raise a family,” Bennett said. “World-class amenities combined with rural charm make Boone County a place FCA US is proud to have called home for more than
50 years.”