Success Stories

Anchors in Our Community: Automotive Photo

Anchors in Our Community: Automotive

In 2016, Fiat Chrysler Automotive (FCA) announced its plans to invest $350 million to retool in the Belvidere Assembly Plant in preparation for the Jeep Cherokee - an award winning vehicle that offers best in class capability and the bestselling SUV in the United States.  Yanfeng Automotive Interiors and Magna International were amongst major suppliers of the FCA who chose to build in Belvidere.

Yanfeng, headquartered in Shanghai, China, is the world’s leading automotive interiors supplier and of the 50 largest automotive suppliers in the world.

YFIA is a global supplier of interior equipment for the automotive industry and produces instrument door panning and consoles for the Jeep Cherokee. 

Magna Exteriors, a division of Magna International, offers a variety of products for the automotive, commercial transportation, consumer and industrial markets. They are an industry leader in molding, painting and assembly, with expertise in developing exterior systems and modules for their customers’ global programs.  Magna International is headquartered in TROY, Michigan, --- produces ---- for Jeep Cherokee.  

Recognized with several industry innovation awards, Magna’s thermoplastic liftgate achieved a 28 percent mass reduction over steel versions and ahigh-volume application for mass production under one roof.  Magna’s completely recyclable thermoplastic liftgate, developed with FCA for the 2019 Jeep Cherokee, has collected several industry awards, including first place in the body exterior category at both the European and North American Society of Plastics Engineers automotive innovation awards and the Unsurpassed Innovation Award at the Composites and Advanced Materials Expo.

“Working very collaboratively with FCA, we were able to help them replace their previous steel liftgate with a thermoplastic one within a short 18-month timeframe,” said Magna Exteriors Global Product Line Director for Liftgates, Riad Chaaya. “This led to a 28 percent mass reduction for the liftgate assembly and enabled greater design freedom.” The Cherokee liftgate module is the first high-volume application of an all thermoplastic liftgate produced in one location. It is also the first industry use of infrared welding behind a visible exterior surface, which enables structural performance, faster processing and improved dimensional performance.

The Illinois Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the Illinois Economic Development Association (IEDA) recognized Magna International with an Edie Award in 2018.  The Edies honor outstanding economic development projects in Illinois that bring jobs, growth and prosperity to Illinois communities.

Chrysler/FCA has made 3 major investments and over a billion dollars in facility enhancements in the past 10 years. With the retooling of the Jeep Cherokee beginning in 2016, over .5 million square feet in high quality buildings and over 1300 additional jobs have been added in Boone County as a result.  The new investment in the region due to the automotive industry is estimated at over $4 million.

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401 Whitney Boulevard
Belvidere, IL 61008