Brampton Assembly
| Brampton Assembly | |
|---|---|
| Built | 1985 |
| Location | Brampton, Ontario, Canada. |
| Coordinate | 43°45′07″N 79°43′05″W / 43.752°N 79.718°W |
| Industry | Automotive |
| Products | Chrysler 300 Dodge Challenger Dodge Charger Lancia Thema |
| Employees | 2,800 |
| Area | 2,950,000 sq ft (274,000 m2) |
| Address | 2000 Williams Parkway East Brampton, Ontario, Canada |
Brampton Assembly is a Chrysler automobile factory is located in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. Originally built by American Motors Corporation (AMC) for US$260 million, the manufacturing plant was specially designed for building the Eagle Premier.
An assembly plant of the same name was located at Kennedy Road/Steeles Avenue and operated by American Motors from 1961 to 1992. The plant assembled American Motors and Jeep vehicles until it was closed in 1992, torn down and replaced by a Lowe's store.
Contents |
History [edit]
In June 1984, American Motors Corporation (AMC) established an agreement with the governments of Ontario and Canada to build a new assembly plant.[1] Both the national and provincial governments loaned AMC C$100 million each to build the C$764 million facility.[1] The agreement also included a royalty to the governments equal to 1% of the sales price of every vehicle produced at the facility.[1]
The infrastructure builder EllisDon Construction completed the US$260 million (US$574,548,366 in 2013 dollars [2]) plant and associated buildings.[3] The factory was opened by AMC in 1986 as Bramalea Assembly, a state-of-the-art robotics-based assembly facility with 2,950,000 square feet (274,000 m2) of floor space located on 269 acres (108.9 ha) specifically designed to produce the Eagle Premier.
The production line speed was initially about 400 cars per shift (54 jobs per hour) with only one shift scheduled.[4] There were frequent layoffs at this new factory while AMC's old Brampton plant located at Kennedy Road worked steady producing Jeep Wranglers.[4]
This facility was acquired (along with the rest of AMC) by Chrysler in August 1987. The factory was ranked tops in Chrysler's 1988 quality audit of the cars produced in each of automaker's plants.[1]
Production of the Chrysler LH platform cars began in June 1992 and continued with the updated LH cars in 1997. Production switched to the rear-wheel drive Chrysler LX platform cars in January 2004.
The attached Brampton Satellite Stamping, which opened in 1991, was built for the launch of the Chrysler LH platform.
At that time, Brampton Assembly operated with three shifts of production. It is the city of Brampton's largest employer, with over 4,200 people working there.
On July 19, 2007 Chrysler Group announced an investment of US$1.2 billion in the Brampton plant for upgrades to the Chrysler 300 series, Dodge Magnum, and Dodge Charger, as well as a $500 million manufacturing investment to prepare for European-market LX platform product loading.[5]
On November 1, 2007 Chrysler LLC announced that it was ending the third shift in Brampton with the loss of 1,000 direct jobs as well as declaring that production of the Dodge Magnum in Brampton will end in early 2008.[6]
On May 1, 2009, both the Brampton Assembly and Windsor Assembly plants were shut down as a result of Chrysler's bankruptcy protection filing on April 30 in the United States, affecting about 2,700 employees at the Brampton Assembly and 4,400 at the Windsor Assembly. A Chrysler parts plant in Etobicoke, Toronto operated until May 10, when it was closed down for 30 to 60 days, affecting 300 employees, while it went through restructuring under court-ordered creditor protection.[7]
After the reorganization, Chrysler announced the launch of new models of the 300 and Charger to be produced in the Brampton assembly plant, beginning in 2010.[8]
The factory began production of the redesigned 2011 Chrysler 300 in January 2011. At this time total employment was 2,871 (2,733 hourly; 138 salaried) working two shifts.[9]
In 2012, employees at the Chrysler factories in Windsor and Brampton, Ontario ratified the CAW’s labor agreement by an overwhelming majority, without any information from the automaker about plans for new products or investment at either plant.[10] As of December 2012, the Brampton Assembly Plant is the single largest employer in Canada's 11th largest city.[11]
Products [edit]
- 1988 – 1992 Eagle Premier
- 1990 – 1992 Dodge Monaco
- 1993 – 1997 Eagle Vision
- 1993 – 2004 Chrysler Concorde
- 1993 – 2004 Dodge Intrepid
- 1994 – 1996 Chrysler New Yorker
- 1994 – 2001 Chrysler LHS
- 1999 – 2004 Chrysler 300M
- 2005 – 2008 Dodge Magnum
- 2005 – Present Chrysler 300
- 2006 – Present Dodge Charger
- 2008 – Present Dodge Challenger
- 2011 – Present Lancia Thema
Annual production [edit]
- 1988 = 59,068
- 1989 = 33,904
- 1990 = 24,676
- 1991 = 18,133
- 1992 = 50,660
- 1993 = 256,754
- 1994 = 256,211
- 1995 = 188,782
- 1996 = 238,965
- 1997 = 204,137
- 1998 = 300,866
- 1999 = 338,921
- 2000 = 291,884
- 2001 = 198,965
- 2002 = 201,723
- 2003 = 140,642
- 2004 = 209,045
- 2005 = 318,536
- 2006 = 314,161
- 2007 = 273,285
- 2008 = 210,704
- 2009 = 121,715 (Bankruptcy Year)
- 2010 = 163,257
- 2011 = 194,631
Total production through 2011 = 4,609,626
| AMC Brampton Assembly Plant | |
|---|---|
| Built | 1960 |
| Location | Brampton, Ontario, Canada. |
| Coordinate | 43°40′41″N 79°43′19″W / 43.678°N 79.722°W |
| Industry | Automotive |
| Products | Rambler Classic AMC Hornet AMC Gremlin AMC Eagle Jeep Wrangler |
| Area | 40 acres (16.2 ha) |
| Address | Kennedy Road Brampton, Ontario, Canada |
| Defunct | 1992 |
AMC's original Brampton plant [edit]
The current Chrysler factory is not the same as a nearby American Motors (AMC) plant that shared the same name.
The fourth largest U.S. automaker built a new factory in Brampton at the northeast corner of Steeles Avenue and Kennedy Road as part of American Motors Canada, Inc. The facility opened on January 26, 1961, with an annual capacity of over 50,000 vehicles and employment of 1,100 hourly and 500 salaried workers.[12] The Rambler Classic was built on a line speed of 32 cars per shift.[4] The facility was soon producing 33,000 cars in Canada.[13] This assembly plant produced Rambler Americans, AMC Rebels, and Ambassadors.
American Motors was in the best position of the U.S. automakers to take advantage of the Canada–United States Automotive Products Agreement.[14] The Ambassador and Javelin production was moved to Kenosha, Wisconsin while assembly of Ramblers and Rebels increased. By 1969, the year of the introduction of the Hornet, the output of AMC's Brampton operation was destined to the eastern half of the continent while production at Kenosha supplied the western regions.[15]
In 1977, AMC hired the first female assembly worker and Cecilia Palmer became the Canadian Auto Workers Local 1285 first sister.[4]
In 1987, with the Chrysler buyout, the AMC division and its plants (Brampton and Bramalea) were absorbed into Chrysler, becoming part of Chrysler Canada Limited. The acquisition of AMC meant overcapacity for Chrysler, and AMC's old Kenosha and Toledo factories were on top of Chrysler's closure list.[16] The workers in Toledo agreed to concessions to keep the factory open, but by 1990, they were pitted against Brampton Assembly and additional concessions by the Toledo employees were crucial to Chrysler's decision to close Brampton.[16]
When the Jeep Wrangler production was moved to Toledo in 1992, the new Bramalea plant was renamed to Brampton Assembly.[17] The original AMC plant was closed on April 4, 1992[4] and sold to Wal-Mart for use as their Canadian warehouse.
The remains of the plant were torn down in 2005, and the land was put to other uses. Among the buildings on the site is a Lowe's home improvement store that opened on December 10, 2007, as one of the first three to be established by the retail chain in Canada.[18]
Annual production [edit]
American Motors' original Brampton production and products from 1961 to 1992:[19]
| Year | Model | Units | Yearly totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Rambler Classic | 4,168 | 4,168 |
| 1962 | Rambler American | 5,050 | |
| Rambler Classic | 12,297 | 17,347 | |
| 1963 | Rambler American | 5,308 | |
| Rambler Classic | 18,941 | ||
| Rambler Ambassador | 3,242 | 27,491 | |
| 1964 | Rambler American | 11,860 | |
| Rambler Classic | 19,247 | ||
| Rambler Ambassador | 1,877 | 32,984 | |
| 1965 | Rambler American | 9,391 | |
| Rambler Classic | 18,264 | ||
| Rambler Ambassador | 6,893 | 34,548 | |
| 1966 | Rambler American | 9,314 | |
| Rambler Classic | 11,606 | ||
| AMC Ambassador | 7,852 | 28,772 | |
| 1967 | Rambler American | 5,434 | |
| AMC Rebel | 15,836 | ||
| AMC Ambassador | 10,125 | 31,395 | |
| 1968 | Rambler American | 25,296 | |
| AMC Rebel | 9,718 | ||
| AMC Ambassador | 6,413 | 41,427 | |
| 1969 | American | 24,185 | |
| AMC Rebel | 15,529 | 38,714 | |
| 1970 | AMC Hornet | 36,408 | |
| AMC Gremlin | 3,260 | ||
| AMC Rebel | 3,581 | 43,249 | |
| 1971 | AMC Hornet | 17,666 | |
| AMC Gremlin | 23,428 | 41,094 | |
| 1972 | AMC Hornet | 18,650 | |
| AMC Gremlin | 33,091 | 57,741 | |
| 1973 | AMC Hornet | 32,331 | |
| AMC Gremlin | 37,663 | 69,994 | |
| 1974 | AMC Hornet | 43,150 | |
| AMC Gremlin | 39,223 | 82,373 | |
| 1975 | AMC Hornet | 21,848 | |
| AMC Gremlin | 10,163 | 32,011 | |
| 1976 | AMC Hornet | 35,204 | |
| AMC Gremlin | 14,422 | 49,626 | |
| 1977 | AMC Hornet | 21,218 | |
| AMC Gremlin | 19,166 | 40,284 | |
| 1978 | AMC Concord | 41,017 | |
| AMC Gremlin | 4,211 | 45,228 | |
| 1979 | Jeep CJ-5 | 20,913 | |
| Jeep CJ-7 | 30,684 | 51,597 | |
| 1980 | Jeep CJ-5 | 12,050 | |
| Jeep CJ-7 | 17,993 | 30,043 | |
| 1981 | AMC Concord | 10,441 | |
| AMC Eagle | 10,347 | 20,788 | |
| 1982 | AMC Concord | 10,117 | |
| AMC Eagle | 20,900 | 31,017 | |
| 1983 | AMC Concord | 14,277 | |
| AMC Spirit | 1,689 | ||
| AMC Eagle | 10,424 | ||
| AMC Eagle SX/4 | 5,398 | 31,788 | |
| 1984 | AMC Eagle | 25,535 | |
| AMC Eagle SX/4 | 1 | 25,536 | |
| 1985 | AMC Eagle | 16,866 | 16,866 |
| 1986 | AMC Eagle | 8,217 | 8,217 |
| 1987 | AMC Eagle | 4,996 | |
| Jeep Wrangler | 44,517 | 49,513 | |
| 1988 | AMC Eagle | 2,305 | |
| Jeep Wrangler | 46,130 | 48,435 | |
| 1989 | Jeep Wrangler | 71,025 | 71,025 |
| 1990 | Jeep Wrangler | 57,451 | 57,451 |
| 1991 | Jeep Wrangler | 57,241 | 57,241 |
| 1992 | Jeep Wrangler | 82,015 | 82,015 |
| 1961-1992 | Grand total | 1,280,078 |
Notes [edit]
- ^ a b c d Rubenstein, James M. (1992). The changing US auto industry: a geographical analysis. Taylor & Francis. p. 264. ISBN 978-0-415-05544-4. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- ^ Staff. Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–2012. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
- ^ "Chrysler Corporation Assembly Plant AMC". EllisDon Corporation. Archived from the original on 17 September 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- ^ a b c d e "The History of Bramptons Largest Union Local". Canadian Auto Workers Local 1285. 18 May 2008. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
- ^ "Chrysler Group to invest $1.2 bln in Brampton assembly plant". Reuters. 19 July 2007. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- ^ "Chrysler Brampton Assembly Plant Job Cuts". The Brampton News. 1 November 2007. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- ^ "Chrysler Canada assembly plants shut down". CBC.ca. 1 May 2009. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- ^ "New Chrysler Business Plan Promising News for Canadian Workers, CAW President says". Canadian Auto Workers. 4 November 2009. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- ^ "Fact Sheet: Brampton Assembly Plant and Brampton Satellite Stamping Plant". Chrysler Corporate. January 2011. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- ^ Kreindler, Derek (1 October 2012). "CAW Workers Ratify Chrysler Agreement As The Countdown To 2016 Begins". The Truth About Cars. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- ^ "Units". Canadian Auto Workers Local 1285. 14 December 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- ^ "The Hatchery Section II Vehicle Production at the American Motors Corporation". AMC Eagle Nest. p. 10. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
- ^ Anastakis, Dimitry (2005). Auto pact: creating a borderless North American auto industry, 1960-1971. University of Toronto Press. p. 125. ISBN 978-0-8020-3821-0. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- ^ Anastakis, p. 128.
- ^ Anastakis, pp. 128-129.
- ^ a b Phelps, Nicholas A.; Raines, Philip (2003). The New Competition for Inward Investment: Companies, Institutionsmand Territorial Development. Edward Elgar Publishing. p. 102. ISBN 9781781956984. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- ^ "Brampton, Ontario Chrysler plants". allpar.com. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- ^ "Lowe's expands internationally, opens first Canadian stores". Groupe CNW. 10 December 2007. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- ^ Dr. Rambler (October 2009). "Brampton production figures according to Plant Tour Brochure". Geocities. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
External links [edit]
- Chrysler's Plant Fact Sheet for the Brampton Assembly Plant and Brampton Satellite Stamping Plant
- Brampton, Ontario Chrysler plants at Allpar.com
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