FCA is to move Ram Heavy Duty truck production from Mexico to Michigan. Photo courtesy Fiat Chrysler S I T E S E L E C T I O N MARCH 2017 17A First for China and CanadaA milk formula plant that’s to integrate intelligent manufacturing, cloud computing and other emerging technologies is also to bring at least 200 new full time jobs to Kingston, Ontario, a city of 117,000 across the St. Lawrence River from New York state. The new plant, announced in December, is a project of China’s Feihe International, a dairy products giant. Feihe is investing some $225 million to launch the 300,000-sq.-ft. (28,000-sq.-m) plant, which is expected to break ground in spring 2017. Feihe produces a popular infant formula with a goat milk base that is known for its hypoallergenic properties. “Our project is a first for both Canada and China,” said Roger Hua Liu, Feihe’s vice chairman and CFO. “We are excited,” Liu continued, “to build Canada’s first and only wet infant formula facility, and North America’s first and only goat milk infant formula facility.”Parking Association Antes Up in Infrastructure DebateAs Congress prepares to act on the president’s promise of $1 trillion in infrastructure spending, the National Parking Association (NPA) has weighed in with a study predicting increased demand for parking spaces. Key findings contained within the 47-page report include:Fiat Chysler Ramping Up US Production with New Jeep Trucks, SUVsFiat Chrysler in January announced a total $1-billion planned investment in two domestic production plants, saying the new phase of its “industrialization plan” will add more than 2,000 jobs at the facilities in Warren, Michigan and Toledo, Ohio. The company says the plan will increase committed investments in US manufacturing facilities to $9.6 billion, which translates into 25,000 new jobs, since 2009. FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne noted that “we continue to reinforce the US as a global manufacturing hub for those vehicles at the heart of the SUV and truck market.”Facing threats from President Trump to either build in the US or pay a hefty “border tax,” automakers including FCA, GM, Ford, Volkswagen and Toyota all have recently announced or highlighted expansion plans in the US.• Parking revenue is projected to grow from just under $25 billion to nearly $29 billion by 2018.• Eighty-six percent of US commuters say driving and parking their vehicle is their dominant mode of transportation.• Approximately 119.9 million Americans drive to work.• The top two states for parking revenue are California ($1.4 billion) and New York ($1.2 billion).• The West Coast is a “parking powerhouse” that presents future revenue growth opportunities.Photo: Getty Images1703NAReports.indd 172/28/17 7:13 PM
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