By Nathan Bomey and Brent Snavely, Detroit Free Press –
DETROIT — Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said no U.S. production of Jeep vehicles will be moved to China and that U.S. production of Jeeps “will constitute the backbone of the brand,” in an email to employees five days after Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney repeated a false report that suggested Jeep production could be moved to China.
Without citing Romney by name, Marchionne said Chrysler remains committed to “investing to improve and expand our entire U.S. operations, including our Jeep facilities,” according to a company email obtained by the Detroit Free Press.
“It is inaccurate to suggest anything different,” Marchionne said.
Romney, in a rally Thursday in Ohio, said he “saw a story today that one of the great manufacturers in this state, Jeep, now owned by the Italians, is thinking of moving all production to China.”
His campaign later released a new TV ad saying that Jeep would make vehicles in China, but dropped the claim that U.S. jobs would be moved to China.
Obama’s campaign released its own ad attacking Romney for his auto industry policies, including a 2008 New York Times op-ed titled “Let Detroit Go Bankrupt.”
In his company email, Marchionne confirmed the company’s previous statements that it plans to eventually restart vehicle production in China because the market “would not otherwise be accessible” without making vehicles there. Chinese regulations make it very difficult to import foreign vehicles.
“This ultimately will help bolster the Jeep brand, and solidify the resilience of U.S. jobs,” Marchionne said. “Jeep is one of our truly global brands with uniquely American roots. This will never change.”
Chrysler is investing $1.7 billion to produce the successor to the Jeep Liberty sport-utility vehicle, including a $500 million expansion with 1,100 jobs at a second shift at the company’s assembly plant in Toledo, Ohio. The automaker has also added 2,000 jobs since June 2009 at its Jefferson North Assembly plant in Detroit, including a third crew that started last week.
Overall, Marchionne said, the company has hired added more than 11,200 jobs in the U.S. since its government-financed bankruptcy reorganization in 2009.
If you really believe what this CEO tells you I have a bridge I want to talk to you about. These guys (just like Obama) will say anything to get what they want and increase their stock holdings. Look at what the Wall Street CEO’s did and said.
Why mention Obama? Romney is the CEO that fits in nicely with the lying business men of our country.
I would like to know ALL the lies that Romny has told. Please enlighten me.
Yepers, it is ok for the present president to lie and keep on lying but let someone else say something not quite true and you kool aid drinkers are all over it. Romney made a mistake of repeating a report he read. Yes, he should have checked out. BUT you people don’t care about the facts you are blinded by the glow of Obama who can not do anything or say anything incorrect. Ask the families of the four killed in Benghazi who sat in the situation room of the White House and watch their loved ones be murdered. Oh yes, that Romney is really a bastard.
When Romney lies its always a mistake but not Qbama. You to are a kool aid drinker I know they both are liars!
A lie makes you look dishonest. I mistake passed off as the truth makes you look incompetent. You can blame the President for the last 4 years but you better lump the previous administration’s 8 years of hosing it up and career politicians not wanting to fix ANYTHING under Obama’s administration. I will take the liar over the moron please.
He put it out in a TV ad in Ohio. That’s not a miss quote!! That is a plain and simple lie!! Shame on Romney and his campaign.
The real question is, will conservatives continue to believe these lies or will they finally accept the fact that Obama is the one they can trust? We shall see.
Once again Bishop Romney (Church of LDS) makes up facts, changes his story, shifts positions and believes that Jesus will come again to an undisclosed location in Missouri at the end of time.
Over and over romney shoots himself in the foot. What a fool!