After Trump threatened tariffs on companies that make products in Mexico and Canada, Stellantis (the multinational conglomerate that includes Chrysler) quickly moved to bring jobs back to the the U.S., including building its new Dodge Durango SUV in Detroit.
Via Yahoo Finance:
Big Three automaker Stellantis (STLA) is making a number of US moves in response to the new Trump administration and its focus on building products in America.
In a letter to employees, Stellantis North America COO Antonio Filosa acknowledged that group chairman John Elkann met with Trump ahead of his inauguration and noted Trump’s “enthusiasm” for his strong commitment to the US and growing jobs and the US economy.
Stellantis — which owns Ram, Jeep, Dodge, and other brands — confirmed a number of specific actions it will take to “entail a multibillion-dollar investment in our people, great products, and innovative technology, all here in the US,” Filosa said.
To that end, Stellantis said it would build a new midsize pickup truck at the recently shuttered Belvidere, Ill., assembly plant. Stellantis previously ended production at Belvidere for the Jeep Cherokee SUV, angering UAW representatives and workers. Now Stellantis said it will return approximately 1,500 UAW members to work, a reversal of the move by former CEO Carlos Tavares, who resigned in early December.
In addition, the company will move forward with plans to build the next-generation Dodge Durango SUV at its Detroit Assembly Complex. There had been rumors that Stellantis would move Durango production to Canada.
Stellantis also confirmed new investments at its Toledo assembly plant, where the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator are built, which will result in additional tech and more product features for those vehicles. Last month, Stellantis also changed plans to lay off workers at the plant, reversing a scheme to cut a shift at the plant.
It would be appropriate for Stellantis to rebrand Dodge into “DOGE”!
