Stellantis will build Dodge Durango in Detroit, reopen Belvidere plant, UAW says
(FOX 2) - Stellantis will build the next generation of its Dodge Durango in Detroit and also plans to reopen a shuttered assembly plant in Illinois, a letter sent from UAW leadership to members said Wednesday.
In a win for the United Auto Workers Union, the announcement follows months of negotiations with the automaker that had spilled into public view last year amid accusations that Stellantis was not upholding its agreement with the UAW.
What they're saying:
A letter addressing UAW members sent Jan. 22 that was posted to the union's X account, claimed it had "won back thousands of UAW jobs."
"This victory is a testament to the power of workers standing together and holding a billion-dollar corporation accountable. Thank you to the thousands of members and leaders who rallied, marched, filed grievances, and talked to coworkers," UAW President Shawn Fain said in the email.
Calling the update a "game-changer," Fain added there was more work to do in "reversing the damage done" by the automaker's ex-CEO Carlos Tavares.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer also applauded the decision, saying it was bringing manufacturing back to Michigan.
"I look forward to working with the UAW, our auto manufacturers and suppliers, and President Trump to keep creating and supporting good-paying American jobs," she said.
Big picture view:
Among the agreements from Stellantis are a plan to build their next Dodge Durango at their Detroit Assembly Complex and reopen the Belvidere Assembly Plant in 2027.
It plans to build a new midsize truck at the Illinois plant.
There is also a "significant investment" coming to the Kokomo engine plant in Indiana to build Stellantis' new GME-T EVO engine in 2026. It's a reversal of plans to move work out of the U.S., the UAW said.
There is also more production coming to the Toledo Machining Plant.
Dig deeper:
In September 2024, Fain warned Stellantis about what he said was the company's failure to honor the collective bargaining agreement the two reached following a union-wide strike a year before.
Fain accused Stellantis of breaching the deal when it closed the Belvidere Plant and appeared to cease building the Durango in Detroit.
As the UAW leadership sought approval to authorize a strike from members, Stellantis filed a federal suit against the UAW, accusing it of violating a contract as well.
It wasn't the only issue Stellantis was facing. Last year also included falling sales and an embattled CEO, who was eventually ousted from the position.