autoevolution
 

There May Still Be Hope for Detroit’s Youth in the Motor Industry

Detroit was called the ‘Motor City’ for a reason, and it has become a metonymy for the US auto industry, in the same way Hollywood is a metonym for the US cinematography industry.
Old Packard Factory Entracne 1 photo
Photo: sometimesinteresting.files.wordpress.com
However, due to the economic downturn which occurred in the Detroit area, all it was left with was projects and empty cars factories which did not do justice to the real importance of the city for the American people, and the world. With around 30% of its inhabitants living below the US ‘poverty line’, it’s no wonder that the area is still as deserted and bleak as when the automakers left it.

There is hope, however, with people like Ralph Gilles, President and CEO of the SRT Brand and Motorsports and Senior Vice President – Product Design, and the man behind the latest SRT-10 Viper. He has been at two of Detroit's main high-schools to give presentations on automotive design, and to show the students that it’s a viable and very rewarding line of work, while also offering a solution out of the poverty with which some of the students are confronted every day.

Chrysler’s recruiting team is scouting the high schools in search of talented individuals and giving them solid career opportunities, and guiding them into car (and product) design roles within the company (Chrysler). As of September 2011, the recruitment team has visited Winans Academy (Detroit), Pontiac High School (Pontiac), Finney High School (Detroit) and Cass Technical High School (Detroit) and they don’t plan on stopping here.

Offering someone who has grown up hearing about the great stories that unfolded in Detroit in its heyday an opportunity to work in car design is one of the greatest gifts one can give, and truly a wonderful initiative which will benefit Chrysler/Dodge, along with the local community.

If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories