- Stellantis shared a memo with its employees, revealing key points about its future strategy in the US.
- The memo confirms that a new midsize truck will be produced at the idled Belvidere plant in Illinois.
- The next Dodge Durango will be built in Detroit, with additional investments in Toledo and Kokomo.
Stellantis Chairman John Elkann recently flew to Washington to meet with President Donald Trump and discuss the company’s future plans for U.S. production. Following the meeting, a memo sent to Stellantis employees outlined the key points of the renewed strategy, including the production of a new midsize truck—believed, but not yet confirmed, to be a Ram model—at the idled Belvidere facility in Illinois.
The memo, obtained by Auto News through its Crain’s Chicago Business affiliate, was signed by Antonio, likely referring to Antonio Filosa, Stellantis’ Chief Operating Officer for Americas and U.S. Brands. It emphasized the company’s renewed commitment to U.S. manufacturing.
More: Stellantis Cuts Inventory, But Dodge, Jeep, And Ram Still Sit On Piles On Unsold Cars
Citing the recent meeting between Elkann and the U.S. president, the memo highlighted Stellantis’ plans. According to the senior company official, “Our plans, focused on increasing market share and growing sales volume, include a multibillion-dollar investment in our people, great products, and innovative technology, all here in the US.” The key points outlined in the memo include:
- Α new mid-size pickup truck will be produced in Belvidere, marking the return of around 1,500 employees.
- Stellantis will move forward with plans to build the next generation Dodge Durango at the Detroit Assembly Complex.
- The company will invest in Toledo, including “additional technologies and strong product actions” for Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Gladiator in the Toledo Assembly Complex, and “more components” in the Toledo Machining Plant.
- The Kokomo facilities will benefit from additional investments for producing the GMET4 EVO engine, ensuring its production will remain in the US.
A Positive Step for Belvidere and Workers
The biggest takeaway from this announcement is the reopening of the Belvidere plant for midsize truck production. The plant, which had been dormant since the discontinuation of the Jeep Cherokee, has been in limbo for some time. While the letter does not provide specific timelines, it signals that Stellantis is moving forward with the $1.5 billion investment promised in its 2023 contract with the UAW.
Back in 2023, Stellantis signed a contract with UAW, committing to a $1.5 billion investment in Belvidere for the production of “midsize trucks” by 2027. However, the facilities that were once the home of production for the now-discontinued Jeep Cherokee, have been in limbo since. UAW has criticized Stellantis for the delay, filing unfair labor practice charges against the automaker in September 2024.
More: Ram Boss “Desperately” Wants A Smaller Pickup
In response to the Belvidere announcement, UAW President Shawn Fain issued a statement saying, “This victory is a testament to the power of workers standing together and holding a billion-dollar corporation accountable. 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.”
As reported by Reuters, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the upcoming midsize truck is “planned to take full advantage of our multi-energy strategy”, offering gasoline, PHEV, and EV powertrain options. While the model has not been named, it is widely speculated to be a Ram-branded successor to the Dodge Dakota, likely aimed at competing with the Toyota Tacoma, Ford Ranger, and Chevrolet Colorado.
New Dodge Durango To Be Built In Detroit
Meanwhile, the Dodge Durango is also getting some love from Stellantis, with production of the next-generation model set to stay in Detroit, rather than being moved abroad, as had been rumored. This move comes after the UAW accused Stellantis of trying to pull production outside the U.S., which they argued would violate the labor contract signed in November 2023. After months of back-and-forth, the union has reached a resolution with the company.
“After meeting with the company for the last several months, last night we resolved our grievances concerning the Dodge Durango and the reopening of Belvidere,” UAW President Shawn Fain said today in another memo to workers, according to Crain’s Chicago Business.
We reached out to Stellantis for details on the production of the new midsize truck and the next-generation Dodge Durango, but a company spokesperson declined to provide any comment.
