Stellantis NVStellantis pushed back Belvidere Cherokee production to 2029 and is weighing the sale of its idle Brampton plant, delaying its manufacturing capacity ramp-up.

Stellantis has pushed back production at its idled Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois, now targeting pilot production of the next-generation Jeep Cherokee in the first half of 2028 and retail production in the second half of 2029, roughly two years later than its previous 2027 initial-production target. The plant has been dormant since February 2023, when Stellantis ended Jeep Cherokee production and laid off over 1,300 employees. Stellantis announced it is raising its Belvidere investment to more than $800 million, up from a previous commitment of $600 million or more, and confirmed the plant will build the next-generation Cherokee on its new STLA One platform, the first vehicle built in the US on that modular design. According to UAW Local 1268 president Matt Frantzen, citing internal records and talks with company executives, the updated schedule pushes pilot production into the first half of 2028 and retail production to the second half of 2029. Separately, Unifor, the Canadian union representing Detroit Three autoworkers, said Stellantis has signed an MOU with Canadian armored-vehicle maker Roshel outlining a potential sale of its Brampton, Ontario assembly plant, which has been idle since 2023; union president Lana Payne said Stellantis has yet to provide the official year's notice required by the collective agreement and called it a lose-lose scenario. The two situations are linked: Brampton had been scheduled to build the Jeep Compass, with retooling beginning in early 2024 before Stellantis paused it in 2025 and then, that October, moved Compass manufacturing to the US entirely, the same reassignment that sent the model to Belvidere. Hedge fund ownership fell to 26 funds in the second quarter from 32 in the first, and short interest stands at a moderate 6.53% of the float.
Stellantis NVStellantis pushed back Belvidere Cherokee production to 2029 and is weighing the sale of its idle Brampton plant, delaying its manufacturing capacity ramp-up.
Roshel signed an MOU outlining a potential purchase of Stellantis's Brampton plant, but the deal is only a non-binding potential sale.