Chrysler to Reinvent Old Engine Plant

The Chrysler Group LLC has decided to dust off the old North Engine Plant and invest $114 million to reuse a portion of the building for manufacturing parts.

The investment is said to create an estimated 268 new jobs, according to a release from Chrysler.

Chrysler will be using about 400,000 square feet of the nearly 2-million-square-foot Trenton North Engine Plant building to support increased production of the Pentastar engine.

The building closed in May 2011 and Trenton Mayor Gerald Brown said he is happy about the new deal.

“My administration worked very hard to come to an agreement that will provide the city with long-term stability at the site, additional jobs and tax base improvements while further enhancing the relationship that Trenton and Chrysler have enjoyed since the 1950s," Brown said. "Trenton truly is Chrysler Town and we are proud of it."

Brown said the decision to use the plant was fast-tracked in order to begin using the building as soon as possible.

The new opened in March 2010 and now produces engines for 10 Chrysler Group vehicles.

“As Chrysler Group moves to replace seven V-6 engines with the new Pentastar V-6, it has become necessary to add capacity on core components in order to meet the production demands of this new engine,” said Brian Harlow, vice president and head of Powertrain Manufacturing. “This investment has also given Trenton North, which has been building engines for nearly 60 years, a new lease on life.”

The portion of the building will be used for the production of components of the Pentastar engine already being produced at the Trenton South Engine Plant.

The Pentastar engine was recently recognized by Ward’s AutoWorld as one of the “Ten Best” for 2010, according to the release.

“We want to thank the city of Trenton for approving our tax abatement request and their continued support,” said Harlow.

Brown and city council members approved the tax abatement at a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday.