Chrysler Group will be the only automotive manufacturer with two assembly plants within the city of Detroit when its Conner Avenue Assembly Plant reopens to produce the 2013 SRT Viper.
"The next generation Viper will make its return to the product lineup in late 2012 as a 2013 model,” said SRT Brand & Motorsports President/CEO Ralph Gilles. “We’re extremely excited that our ultimate American sports car will continue to live on and be produced exclusively here in the Motor City.”
During the initial 1995-2010 Viper production run at Conner, employees hand-built 22,070 Vipers in a low-volume, modular process. For the new Viper generation, production will begin late next year, with employees starting orientation and training still this year. The Conner plant reopening will bring about 150 hourly and salaried jobs to Detroit.
In preparation for the reopening, the Conner facility has begun its transformation by implementing World Class Manufacturing, a system that is focused on reducing waste and making continuous improvements throughout the assembly process to improve quality and productivity.
Current Chrysler Group hourly employees who previously worked at Conner were first offered the opportunity to return to their home plant. The balance of the positions will be filled by hourly employees volunteering to transfer to the Conner Avenue plant. For anyone inquiring about any Chrysler Group job, see Chrysler Careers.
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On Sept. 14, 2011, veteran GT driver Dominik Farnbacher piloted the street-legal 2010 Dodge Viper ACR to a new production car lap record of 7:12.13 at the famed 12.9 mile Nürburgring Nordschleife (north course). Visit the Chrysler Group Pentastar Video YouTube channel to watch that ride.
