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Toledo nervously awaiting fate of beloved Jeep

FILE - In this June 3, 2011 file photo, a 2012 Jeep Wrangler sits next to the assembly line at Chrysler Group's Toledo Assembly complex, in Toledo, Ohio. Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Toledo's mayor spoke with Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne on a conference call Sunday, Oct. 5, 2014, after he indicated it's possible that production of the next version of Jeep Wrangler could be moved from the Toledo facility. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File) FILE - In this June 3, 2011 file photo, a 2012 Jeep Wrangler sits next to the assembly line at Chrysler Group's Toledo Assembly complex, in Toledo, Ohio. Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Toledo's mayor spoke with Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne on a conference call Sunday, Oct. 5, 2014, after he indicated it's possible that production of the next version of Jeep Wrangler could be moved from the Toledo facility. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)

By Associated Press October 9, 2014 1 min read

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) – Autoworkers in Ohio are on edge with word Chrysler is considering moving production of its beloved Jeep Wrangler out of Toledo.

Jeeps – starting with the original military model used in World War II – have been made in Toledo almost continuously since the 1940s. But Chrysler is considering moving Wrangler production elsewhere so it can be constructed with an aluminum body to meet with new government gas-mileage standards.

A group led by Toledo’s mayor along with Ohio state officials is meeting with Chrysler officials Thursday to find out if there’s any chance of keeping the Wrangler.

Workers who have spent generations building Jeeps say seeing the Wrangler go would be like losing a member of the family.

Says Jennifer Wherry: “That’s almost like sacred. You can’t do that.”