When we announced in February 2019 our plan to invest $2.5 billion in our Detroit facilities on the city’s east side, creating nearly 5,000 new jobs, we also made the unprecedented commitment to put Detroiters first, especially the neighbors who live around our plant.

We listened to the community when they said they wanted to be first in line for the new jobs and, together with Detroit at Work, developed a process that prioritizes Detroiters – veterans, returning residents and those who live closest to the plant.

Today, Benny Wilkinson is one of the more than 2,500 Detroiters who have accepted a job offer at the new Detroit Assembly Complex – Mack plant. As a production operator, he will support production of an all-new, three-row, full-size Jeep® SUV, the next-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee and their electrified models. Wilkinson is currently working at the Sterling Heights Assembly Plant building the Ram 1500 while he waits to be called to join the Mack team in the first quarter of 2021.

“I wanted to join FCA because of the opportunities, the experience and the diversity of the people,” Wilkinson said. “The new things you can learn and the possibility for growth at a place like FCA seem limitless.

“This job means security. I don’t see this being a job that will be a one and done, a couple months and out,” Wilkinson added. “I feel it is somewhere I can stay and somewhere that people want you to stay. Seems like everyone’s motivation is to get you to stay as long as you can. No one wants you to fail.”

Stay tuned for more profiles on the Detroiters who will help shape our next 100 years in the city.

New Hire Facts

• As of Oct. 5, we have more than 16,000 prospective candidates from the City of Detroit and Detroit at Work.
• In total, more than 4,100 interviews have been conducted, with 2,513 offers of employment extended. Only three individuals declined our offer of employment.
• 60% of Detroiters who accepted a conditional offer of employment at Mack opted to kick-start their learning experience by first joining our Jefferson North, Sterling Heights or other Detroit area locations before moving to Mack. (The remaining individuals opted to wait until the Mack location launches in early 2021.)