Brad Clark, vice president and head of Engine and Transmission Manufacturing FCA North America announced FCA’s investment of $400 million to convert the ITP II plant into an engine assembly plant while also changing the name to Kokomo Engine Plant on March 5.
Inside the 600,000-square-foot facility, leaders with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles publicly confirmed 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 employment 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. Production is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2021.
Brad Clark of FCA North America, said the plant had made nearly 4 million transmissions from 2003 to 2018, when the company began to shutter the facility, which will now be known as 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, it’s hood popped open showing off the GMET4 inside.
The GMET4 engine is one of FCA’s most fuel efficient, but still offers 270 horsepower and 295 pounds of torque, along with low emissions.
But the GMET4 will also play a pivotal part in expanding FCA’s electric engine options, since a significant number of new technologies can be applied to it, making it relevant for future developments across 30 nameplates by 2022.