In a dramatic turnabout that defuses months of wrangling with the UAW, Stellantis says it will restart its idled Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois and build the next-generation Dodge Durango in Detroit.
The news, announced in a letter Wednesday to employees from North America Chief Operating Officer Antonio Filosa, also provided some good news to workers in Toledo, Ohio, and Kokomo, Indiana, where investments are planned. The Belvidere plant will start production of a new midsize truck in the next two years.
The letter said company Chairman John Elkann had met last week with President Donald Trump before his inauguration on Monday. Elkann shared “our enthusiasm for his strong commitment to the United States auto industry and all that this means for American jobs and the broader economy.” Reuters reported that Elkann met with Trump twice, but did not attend the inauguration.
Elkann said Stellantis planned to continue the company’s long history in the United States “by further strengthening our U.S. manufacturing footprint and providing stability for our great American workforce,” according to the letter.
The announcements on Belvidere and the Detroit Assembly Complex offer a significant shift in the narrative around Stellantis in the United States, which has seen significant job cuts over the last year. The UAW had threatened a potential national strike over what the union contended was the company’s backtracking on product commitments.
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The fate of the idled Belvidere Assembly Plant was a major issue during 2023 contract talks, and the company later said it would delay a planned restart there. The announcement said 1,500 UAW-represented workers would return to Belvidere.
The UAW noted in a statement provided by spokesman Nathan Pensler that the investment news followed months of the union pushing the company to keep its 2023 contract commitments in Detroit and Belvidere. The union had accused the company of confirming plans to move production of the next-generation Durango to the Windsor Assembly Complex in Ontario, which the company disputed. The current version is built at the Detroit Assembly Complex-Jefferson, formerly known as Jefferson North Assembly Plant.
The UAW said in its statement that both commitments had been “walked back by disgraced former CEO Carlos Tavares, and are being honored by the company’s new leadership,” but that with the new commitments related to Detroit and Belvidere, it had agreed to settle its grievances over those issues. Tavares resigned abruptly in December, well in advance of the end of his contract, as the company dealt with numerous challenges, including alienating key stakeholders and sales struggles.
More:Stellantis CFO: Automaker could shift production to US to cope with tariffs
“This victory is a testament to the power of workers standing together and holding a billion-dollar corporation accountable,” UAW President Shawn Fain said in the release. “We’ve shown that we will do what it takes to protect the good union jobs that are the lifeblood of places like Belvidere, Detroit, Kokomo and beyond.”
Details on the brand of the new truck to be built in Illinois were not immediately available. However, lack of a midsize pickup for the Ram brand has long been seen as a gap in the portfolio, and it’s something that returning Ram brand CEO Tim Kuniskis mentioned when he met with the Free Press at the Detroit Auto Show this month.
Stellantis spokeswoman Jodi Tinson confirmed production and launch of the truck in 2027, as called for in the contract. Timing for the Durango is being assessed.
The investments in Toledo are to include “additional technologies and strong product actions for Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Gladiator in our Toledo Assembly Complex, and more components critical to our production in our Toledo Machining Plant,” the letter said.
Kokomo will see investments “to produce the GMET4 EVO engine, ensuring that the U.S. will be the manufacturing home of this strategic powertrain,” the letter said. The Kokomo plans represent a new investment announcement.
Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters.
Exciting news for automotive enthusiasts in the Midwest! Stellantis, the parent company of popular brands like Jeep, Ram, and Dodge, has announced that a new midsize truck will be produced at their Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois. This addition to the lineup is sure to be a game-changer for those looking for a versatile and capable truck.
But that’s not all – Stellantis has also revealed that the next-generation Dodge Durango will be built at their Detroit Assembly Complex. This iconic SUV is known for its powerful performance and bold design, and the new model is expected to take things to the next level.
With these new vehicles being produced in the heart of the Midwest, it’s clear that Stellantis is committed to investing in the region and providing top-notch vehicles for consumers. Keep an eye out for more updates on these exciting developments!
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