Another effect of the agreement with the United Auto Workers
At the end of February, Stellantis suspended its assembly plant in Belvidere, Illinois, where the Jeep Cherokee was previously built. This drastic decision meant that 1,200 workers had to be laid off with no promise of future work. After signing a preliminary agreement with the United Auto Workers union, the situation changed.
In an official statement posted on YouTube, UAW Vice President Rich Boyer shared the good news: “UAW Family, I am… honored to announce that we have saved Belvidir. We’ve done it again… We’ll be launching a new vehicle in Belvidere, it’ll be a mid-size pickup truck, and we’ll have two shifts.”
We’ve done it again…” – 1,200 workers will return to the factory to assemble the new Stellantis car
Even before production at the plant resumes, those laid off will receive benefits. They will again be placed on temporary layoff with continued pay and medical benefits until they are reinstated to their jobs. The UAW vice president added that Stellantis will create more than 1,000 jobs at the new battery manufacturing plant in Belvidere.
It is unclear what kind of pickup truck Stellantis will produce in Belvidere. The first thought that comes to our mind is the Ram Rampage, which is already produced in Brazil at a plant located in Pernambuco. It was repeatedly noticed during tests in the United States.
The pickup will probably be equipped with a hybrid or electric powertrain since we are also talking about battery production.
