2/23/10
JEEP TIKI
Cooperation creates Wrangler Islander mascot

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Jeep Tiki, the little Wrangler Islander mascot now making appearances at auto shows across the country, is the offspring of UAW-Chrysler cooperation.

The fierce-looking, 3-foot-tall totem representing the recently sold-out Wrangler model, was brought to life in the Chrysler Group LLC’s Product Design Office (PDO) through the combined efforts of Chrysler designer Vince Galante and Local 412 Unit 1 Skilled Trade Industrial Clay Sculptor Nate Facciolla.

The dynamic duo had previously worked so well together on seven consecutive projects that each says he can almost visualize what the other is thinking. This unique teamwork was the ideal combination for the creation of Jeep Tiki.

With four days remaining before Christmas break, the head of Jeep Design, Mark Allen, asked for an island-inspired mascot for the Jeep Islander.

Galante quickly went to work researching different totems and island ideas and started sketching. Starting with the iconic 7-slot grille and head lamps of the Jeep Wrangler as the mouth and eyes and using trapezoidal shapes, Jeep Tiki began to gel.

Galante gave Facciolla several two-dimensional sketches, including side and rear views. And as Facciolla took clay and began sculpting Jeep Tiki, he confirmed design direction with Galante. Discussions between the two ranged from bringing out the knees a little bit, adding a rounder backside and maybe even a little friendlier look to the eyes.

Photo by Mike Cattane Images of tiki-type idols and Gallante's sketches helped Facciolla create the grille-toothed model of Jeep Tiki.

Once Facciolla and Galante decided “That’s it!” Jeep Tiki moved on to PDO Milling and Digitizing. There, Cliff Kinney, another UAW 412 member in Unit 1, took measurements and collected data from one side of the tiki, then mirrored the information to create a symmetrical figure.

Local 412’s Craig Buoncompagno, also PDO Unit 1, donated a fallen tree from his back yard. He sawed out a 4-foot-tall, 20-inch-wide moss-covered log and brought it into work. Using the scanned data from the clay model, the log was milled down and began to take the form of the little idol Galante had envisioned.

After Chrysler Milling Programmer Joe Cullinan created the cutting path, 412’s Dan Langusch on the first shift and Kevin Mcfadden on the second shift (both from PDO Unit 1) milled the log using the digitized data. Langusch and Mcfadden worked for two days to get Jeep Tiki into shape.

Dan Langusch and Maurice Seguin inspect the big log that would become the little Jeep Islander mascot.

After the UAW’s Dwight Bell of Skilled Trades Unit 14 gave the totem some final touches and a coat of shine, the tiki was off to his big debut at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

He must have been a hit because, according to The Scoop, the Wrangler Islander edition (which is make a return to the Jeep lineup after a 20 year hiatus), sold out in less than a month. The vehicle has orders for its entire planned production and then some, rumored to be twice as many as originally planned. Many of those orders came from international dealers, confirming the global appeal of the model.

A computer-controlled milling machine programmed by Chrysler's Joe Cullinan and operated by UAW Local 412's Dan Langusch and Kevin Mcfadden begins bringing Jeep Tiki's spirit out of the wood.

Jeep Tiki reportedly is excited by his newfound celebrity status and is putting in cameo appearances at the Chicago, Geneva and Los Angeles auto shows as well as other events.

The project is another great example of UAW Local 412 Units 1 and 14, along with Chrysler PDO non-bargaining employees working together, creating a synergy which evolved into a bigger success than anyone anticipated.

Production of the Jeep Islander at the Toledo (Ohio) Supplier Park plant began Feb. 8.