SATURDAY, SEP TEMBER 19, 2020 • KOKOMO TR I BUNE PROGRESS EDI T ION
3
By CARSON GERBER
and GEORGE MYERS
KOKOMO TRIBUNE
S
ay goodbye to Indiana
Transmission Plant II. Say
hello to the Kokomo
Engine Plant.
That’s what a crowd
did on March 5 inside the
600,000-square-foot facility on
north Ind. 931, where leaders
with Fiat Chrysler Automo-
biles publicly confirmed that
the now-idle plant will begin
making the Global Medium
Engine Turbo 4 [GMET4].
The move marks a $400
million investment in the facility
that will retain about 1,000
jobs and add nearly 200 more,
bringing the total FCA employ-
ment in Indiana to over 8,300.
Now, the facility will be the
source of all U.S. production of
the engine, which is currently
being built in Termoli, Italy. Pro-
duction is expected to begin in
the second quarter of 2021.
Brad Clark, vice president and
head of engine and transmission
manufacturing for FCA North
America, said the plant had
made nearly 4 million transmis-
sions from 2003 to 2018, when
the company began to shutter
the facility. It sat idle for the last
few months.
Mark Stewart, chief operating
officer for FCA North America,
said the plant served a long life
building transmissions, but
the company is now repurpos-
ing it for the next generation of
engines. The facility is called the
Kokomo Engine Plant.
That engine is currently an
option in the Jeep Wrangler and
Cherokee, one of the company’s
most iconic brands. A 2020
Wrangler was on display inside
the facility, its hood popped
open showing off the GMET4
inside.
Stewart said that engine is
one of FCA’s most fuel efficient,
but still offers 270 horsepower
and 295 pounds of torque, along
with low emissions.
“It’s an amazing, amazing
turbo-4 engine,” he told the
crowd. “It gives our customers
the torque and the power that
they love in our engine, and one
that is super fuel efficient.”
But the GMET4 will also play a
pivotal part in expanding FCA’s
electric engine options, Stewart
said, since a significant number
of new technologies can be
applied to it, making it relevant
for future developments.
“It will play an important role
in our plans to offer electric
engine options across 30 name-
plates that FCA will bring to
markets around the world by
2022,” he said.
The announcement and
name change of the facility was
attended by a horde of local and
state officials, including Gov.
Eric Holcomb.
Holcomb told the crowd that
Indiana is grateful to FCA for
choosing Kokomo to invest in
the plant and bring new jobs to
the state.
“To know that you chose to
grow in Kokomo, it’s a decision
we’ll never take for granted,” he
said. “ ... You could have chosen
anywhere, whether it was close
to us or far away, and you chose
to grow in Kokomo. We’re
extremely grateful.
“I’m a little biased, but I think
it was the wisest decision you
could have made,” he added,
getting a chuckle from the
crowd.
Kokomo Mayor Tyler Moore
also thanked the company for
bringing production of the
engine to the former trans-
mission plant. He said the
investment will be a boon for the
area’s economy.
“This is truly a great day not
just for Fiat Chrysler, but for
Kokomo and Howard County
as a whole, but most especially
for the local workforce that
will benefit from this,” he said.
“ ... The future success of Fiat
Chrysler, like its past success,
will continue to invigorate
our economy and be felt by
everyone.”
The Kokomo Common Council
helped attract the company’s
investment by approving a
10-year, step-down abatement,
starting at 100% in the first year
and lowering by 10% each subse-
quent year.
The local tax abatement
joined a slew of other, state-
level incentives offered to FCA,
including incentives related to
job training; performance-based
tax credits hinged on whether
the company hires Hoosiers;
redevelopment credits meant
to incentivize work on vacant
property; and more.
Stewart said FCA was proud to
work with local and state leaders
to make the facility renovation
work, and said the company felt
good about investing in Kokomo.
“We’re very excited – pun
intended – to be an economic
engine to help this community
thrive and help the next genera-
tion and help all of us together
as a family,” he said.
But company and elected offi-
cials all agreed the investment
was only possible because of the
local workforce, which fought
for the new engine line and
proved they can make anything,
and make it well.
Cindy Estrada, vice presi-
dent and director of the FCA
department for the United Auto
Workers, said the local union
membership was vital in the
company’s decision to invest in
Kokomo.
“I’ve learned one thing in
my time as vice president of
the UAW, and that’s one of the
strongest memberships that we
have, who fight for product and
fight for workers’ rights, is the
Kokomo membership,” she said
“ ... This wouldn’t be possible
without the quality they bring.”
FCA Engine Vice President
Clark agreed.
“Our employees have risen to
every challenge that’s been put
in front of them, exceeding all
expectations,” he said. “ ... This
is a great day for Kokomo as we
diversify our operations and
bring additional opportunities
to this region.”
FCA REVVING UP MANUFACTURING
COMPANY REVAMPS TRANSMISSION PLANT TO KOKOMO ENGINE PLANT
Mayor Tyler Moore, Gov. Eric Holcomb and COO of FCA NA Mark Stewart
talk about the engine
and the Jeep Rubicon that it is in.
(Kokomo Tribune file photo)
