Stellantis, the corporate that owns Chrysler and Jeep, mentioned Wednesday it plans to reopen a manufacturing facility in Illinois and enhance manufacturing elsewhere in the USA, a transfer that’s more likely to resolve a number of simmering disputes with the United Car Employees union.
The reopening can be seemingly to assist the corporate in its dealings with the Trump administration and is among the many first main modifications made by an interim administration crew that has been working the corporate since its CEO Carlos Tavares resigned in December.
“These actions are a part of our dedication to put money into our U.S. operations to develop our automotive manufacturing and manufacturing right here,” Antonio Filosa, the corporate’s North American COO, mentioned in an announcement.
The announcement follows a current assembly between Stellantis Chairman John Elkann and President Trump, the corporate mentioned. Mr. Elkann informed the president that Stellantis, which is headquartered in Amsterdam, goals to strengthen its US manufacturing base and is dedicated to preserving American jobs and the broader US economic system.
Stellantis, which additionally owns Fiat, Dodge, Ram and Peugeot, shut down the Belvidere, Illinois plant in early 2023. Later that yr, it agreed in a brand new contract with the UAW to reopen it. In August 2024 the corporate mentioned it was delaying the reopening after its gross sales and revenue collapsed.
The UAW responded by submitting complaints with the Nationwide Labor Relations Board, alleging Stellantis was in breach of the 2023 contract.
Stellantis mentioned Wednesday that it plans to make a midsize pickup in Belvidere and that it’ll rehire about 1,500 union employees.
The corporate additionally mentioned it’s going to proceed with plans to construct a brand new Dodge Durango sports activities automobile at a plant in Detroit. The UAW feared that Stellantis was getting ready to maneuver manufacturing of the car to Mexico, and the union filed grievances on that situation as nicely.
“This victory is a testomony to the ability of employees standing collectively and holding a billion-dollar company accountable,” UAW President Sean Fein mentioned in an announcement Wednesday. “Now we have proven that we’ll do what it takes to guard the nice union jobs which can be the lifeblood of locations like Belvidere, Detroit, Kokomo and past.”
In its assertion, Stellantis additionally mentioned it will make investments at its vegetation in Toledo, Ohio, the place it makes the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator fashions. Further funding can even are available in an engine plant in Kokomo, Indiana, the corporate mentioned.
