Associated Press | Chrysler Group LLC says it will rehire 379
laid-off workers and hire 20 new supervisors to build transmissions at
its operations in Kokomo, Ind. The company said Tuesday that it will invest $43 million in equipment
to expand the Kokomo operations, which include casting and transmission
plants.

Some of the workers have already been brought back, said Chrysler spokeswoman Jodi Tinson.

The factories will build components and transmissions that accompany four-cylinder engines in the Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep small and midsize vehicles.

Chrysler says the investment was made possible because of tax abatement granted by the city of Kokomo.

The company said the Kokomo announcement brings its investment in new powertrains to nearly $1 billion since 2007.

The investments include $179 million at the Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance plant in Dundee, Michigan to make new four-cylinder engines and $730 million in a Trenton, Michigan, factory that is building a new 6-cylinder engine, Chrysler said in a statement.