Stellantis to reopen Illinois plant for Ram midsize truck production after $1.2B renovation.
Battery plant and parts distribution hub initially planned for Belvidere are no longer proceeding.
More than 1,500 workers expected to return to the Belvidere facility by 2027 in two shifts.
Stellantis plans to restart operations at its shuttered Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois by early 2027 to produce a new Ram midsize pickup truck, local officials and union leaders confirmed. The trade-off is that the company has abandoned earlier plans to add a battery facility and large parts distribution hub at the site.
The Belvidere facility closed in early 2023 after Jeep Cherokee production ended. Once employing 5,000 workers, the five million-square-foot plant was reduced to a small maintenance team and limited parts operations. The reopening will require a $1.2 billion renovation and could bring back over 1,500 workers, with several hundred expected to return by 2026.
Stellantis Shows Concepts for the Upcoming Midsize Ram EV and New Dodge Durango to Dealers
The timing of the announcement follows political pressure from President Donald Trump to increase domestic auto manufacturing and avoid tariffs on imports. Stellantis reversed previous plans to keep the site closed shortly after Trump assumed office in January. According to United Auto Workers officials, the decision was also influenced by union demands and strike threats.
“It’d be lying to say tariffs weren’t a factor,” said Kevin Gotinsky of the UAW Stellantis department, adding that internal union pressure was also critical. UAW President Shawn Fain and Stellantis North American manufacturing head Tim Fallon visited Belvidere earlier this month to review the company’s timeline.
The reopening is expected to rehire many laid-off workers who had relocated to other Stellantis facilities. New labour arrangements allow them to receive supplemental unemployment pay while employed elsewhere. Stellantis also offered $75,000 buyouts or retirement incentives to Belvidere workers—higher than what was offered at other plants.
Stellantis has confirmed that the Belvidere plant will produce a midsize Ram truck using a “multi-energy” platform. Local officials say the vehicle is expected to offer hybrid and gas-powered options, with the potential for an electric version. AutoForecast Solutions vice president Sam Fiorani said the pickup is likely to be based on Stellantis’ STLA Large platform and will compete with the Toyota Tacoma, Ford Ranger, and Chevrolet Colorado.
The company has not produced a midsize pickup since it discontinued the Dodge Dakota in 2011.
Plans for a $3 billion battery joint venture and a $100 million Mopar parts distribution hub have been dropped. Stellantis cited slower-than-expected electric vehicle demand and existing battery capacity in Kokomo, Indiana. The battery plant was previously expected to be built near the assembly site.
Source: Detroit Free Press
