Chrysler Adds Shift at Belvidere, Ill., Plant to Produce Dart

BELVIDERE, IL – Chrysler is adding 1,800 jobs, which includes a third crew and additional jobs to support production of the new Dodge Dart. The company said it hasn’t run a third shift at that plant since March 2008, when there were 3,600 employees at the plant.

The automaker said it is adding the jobs as part of a new operating pattern that allows the plant to run an additional 49 days per year. Called a 3-2-120 schedule, three crews work four 10-hour straight-time days per week for a total of 120 hours of production time. A typical two shift production schedule provides 80 hours per week of production time. Although individual employees work a total of 49 fewer days, the plant actually operates 49 more days, according to Chrysler.

Along with this announcement, Chrysler stated that the 2013-MY Dodge Dart will have a starting U.S. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of $15,995 and will be available in five trim levels: SE, SXT, Rallye, Limited, and R/T.

You can watch a video below of the speech Chrysler Group Chairman and CEO Sergio Marchionne gave at the plant.