DETROIT (AP) -- Chrysler Group LLC says it's reopening its Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit to make the next generation SRT Viper, creating about 150 jobs.

The company idled the plant when production of the Dodge Viper ended in July 2010.

Chrysler executive Ralph Gilles said in a statement Tuesday that the new Viper will join the company's product line in late 2012 as a 2013 model.

Chrysler says current hourly employees who previously worked at Conner were first offered the opportunity to return to their former plant. It says the rest of the jobs will be filled by other hourly employees volunteering to transfer.