After months of speculation, Chrysler is expected to officially confirm the addition of a third shift at its Belvidere, Illinois, assembly plant later this week. The announcement will be made by company CEO Sergio Marchionne during a scheduled tour of the plant on Thursday.
The third shift will add about 1,100 new jobs to the plant. Those hires will be in addition to the 500 temporary and part-time positions Chrysler is currently adding to the plant to support the production of its new Dodge Dart compact, according to The Detroit News. Chrysler says its new temporary and part-time workers will be on the job by April, but third shift workers aren’t expected to begin work for several more months.
The Belvidere hires will be just the latest in a series for Chrysler. The Auburn Hills-based automaker recently confirmed that it will add a third shift at its Jefferson North Assembly Plant and will also go on a hiring spree at its Jeep plant in Toledo, Ohio.
Belvidere’s third shift will join the other two in producing the Dodge Dart, Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot. The factory currently employs 2,700 workers.
