Stellantis today committed to building a midsized pickup at Belvidere Assembly again, overriding Carlos Tavares’ decision to renege on the union contract at two factories by dropping both the pickup and the next-generation Dodge Durango.
The move will result in the re-hire of 1,500 workers and having a pickup in a key segment.
Originally the pickup was to be electric only, but it’s likely that it will be gasoline-powered with a possible electric alternative when it is built. The union contract required the plant to reopen in 2027, and the company agreed to honor this commitment.
The Durango will be built at Detroit Assembly Complex. The Jefferson Avenue plant currently making Durangos is part of Detroit Assembly Complex, so it could move to the former Mack area where the Grand Cherokee is currently made. This is in line with the 2023 contract.
The company also agreed to make the GME-T4 EVO, or second-generation GME 2-liter four-cylinder, in Kokomo starting in 2026 instead of moving it to Mexico. The same engine will be made at Dundee along with the French EP6. Finally, Stellantis agreed to increase component making at Toledo Machining.
It appears that Stellantis is honoring the 2023 UAW agreement and making the promised investments, albeit possibly a little late in some cases, e.g. the Ramcharger being delayed and REV possibly dropped or delayed further.
David Zatz started what was to become the world’s biggest, most comprehensive Mopar site in 1994 as he pursued a career in organizational research and change. After a chemo-induced break, during which he wrote car books covering Vipers, minivans, and Jeeps, he returned with Patrick Rall to create StellPower.com for daily news, and to set up MoTales for mo’ tales.
David Zatz has around 30 years of experience in covering Chrysler/Mopar news and history, and most recently wrote Century of Chrysler, a 100-year retrospective on the Chrysler marque.
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