Automakers expect to hire in 2012

DETROIT, Jan. 20 (UPI) -- Several automakers in the United States, both foreign and domestic, said they will hire more workers in 2012.

Daimler Trucks North America, BMW, Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler are among those that said they would add new workers this year, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.

Daimler, a division of Mercedes-Benz, said it would add a second shift of 1,100 workers at a truck-building facility in Cleveland, N.C.

BMW said it would hire an additional 300 workers in Spartanburg, S.C., to help build sport utility vehicles there.

Ford pledged in its contract with the United Auto Workers union it would hire an additional 12,000 by 2015. It plans to hire 5,500 workers this year, which would fulfill almost half of that promise.

Chrysler Group said it would take on an additional 1,250 workers in Detroit, including 1,100 at the Jefferson North Assembly Plant and 150 at the Conner Avenue Assembly plant.

At the Jefferson North facility, Chrysler is poised to expand production of the Jeep Cherokee. Production of the SRT Viper sports car is scheduled for the Conner Avenue plant when it reopens.

The Center for Automotive Research said employment in the industry grew 4 percent in 2011 to 590,000.