Stellantis remains committed to reopening its idled assembly plant in Belvidere, Illinois, in 2027 where it will produce a new mid-size truck, a company spokesperson said in an email to Automotive Dive.
The confirmation follows announcements by the financially struggling automaker, which is rethinking its vehicle strategy after canceling plans for a fully-electric Ram pickup and the Jeep Gladiator 4xe.
"Stellantis confirmed in January its intention to reopen the Belvidere Assembly Plant for production of a mid-size truck and still expect a launch in 2027,” Jodi Tinson, a company spokesperson, said in an email. She did not specify whether the truck would be electric or gas-powered.
Meanwhile, hundreds of former Belvidere plant workers appear ready to return to the factory.
A Sept. 23 union update notice from United Auto Workers Local 1268 President Matt Frantzen said 960 members are currently on the recall list for the plant. The local once represented about 1,800 people.
Per the notice, $240,000 was approved for restroom renovations. Other work planned includes door replacement as well as roof and boiler repairs.
Stellantis shuttered the Belvidere plant in February 2023 as part of a wave of cost-cutting moves.
However, the plant appeared to get a second chance after Stellantis was named among the recipients of a $1.7 billion Department of Energy grant meant to support the conversion of shuttered or at-risk auto manufacturing plants to build electric vehicles. Stellantis was awarded $335 million to convert the Belvidere plant for electrification.
