All Hands Are On Deck Trying To Save Belvidere Assembly Plant


Illinois has submitted a proposal to save the future of the Stellantis Belvidere assembly plant. Stellantis last month announced plans to shut down its Illinois-based factory indefinitely. The plant currently employs 1,219 people and builds the medium-sized Jeep® Cherokee (KL).

A Belvidere assembly worker installs interior components on a Jeep® Cherokee. (Stelantis).

The 5-million-square-foot facility, located about 70 miles northwest of Chicago, remained the hardest-hit Stellantis factory in North America during the semiconductor crisis and now only makes Cherokee.

The move comes ahead of a current three-year labor contract between the automaker and the United Auto Workers Union (UAW), which is set to expire in September. Stellantis says she plans to officially idle her Belvidere site on Tuesday, February 28.

Jeep® Cherokee production at the Belvidere assembly plant. (Stelantis).

Stellantis said all options for the future of the Belvidere plant are being considered and “the company is working to identify other opportunities to reuse the Belvidere facility.”

With a new battery electric vehicle (BEV) line-up that includes the new midsize Jeep Recon (EJ) and the midsize yet-to-be-officially named Wagoneer S (KX), many are wondering if these products will be produced at the Belvidere site. I thought it would. According to AutoForecast, the upcoming Jeep Recon and Wagoneer S will be built alongside the next-generation Jeep Cherokee (KM) at the Stellantis Toluca assembly plant in Mexico.

UAW/FCA workers use skillets to “bond” the chassis to the body of the Jeep® Cherokee at the Belvidere Assembly Plant. (Stelantis).

Illinois has passed a federal inflation-reduction bill that includes tax incentives for companies like Stellantis to produce electric vehicles in the U.S., and a tax incentive for companies to convert their factories to electric vehicles, sources said. It uses Illinois’ Reimaging Electric Vehicles Act, which provides incentives for (EV) production.

If Stellantis moves away from the Belvidere complex, it could be a big loss for additional future production. It consists of an automatic transfer press, 1 tandem press line, 1 automatic blanking line and 50 unique die sets.

This plant is perfect for things like future midsize pickups. Are you listening to Stellantis?

History of Belvidere –

The Belvidere factory was built in 1964 and 1965 and produced its first vehicle on 7 July 1965. The first cars produced from 1965 to his 1977 included his 2- and 4-door models of Plymouth and Dodge, station wagons and the Chrysler Town. & Country Wagon (C-body). In 1977 the factory was converted to front wheel drive (FWD) production. From 1978 to 1987 the product line included the Plymouth Horizon Horizon TC3 (LM) and the Dodge Omni, Dodge Rampage and Dodge Charger (LZ).

1986 Dodge Shelby Omni GHLS. (bring the trailer).

In 1987, the plant underwent a state-of-the-art 16-week facelift for $367 million, producing the Chrysler New Yorker (ET) and Dodge Dynasty (CD). door sedan. Two years later, a $72 million facelift was made for his 1990 model year production, which included the Chrysler Imperial and the New Yorker Salon (AY).

In 1994 the factory was converted to produce Plymouth and Dodge Neons (PL). Neon production ended in September 2005. Dodge Caliber (PM) he was launched in December 2005, followed by he Jeep Compass (MK49) in May 2006 and Jeep Patriot (MK74) in December 2006. The last Dodge Caliber has rolled off the line. Production of the Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot ended on December 23, 2016.

2012 Dodge Caliber SXT. (Dodge).

In October 2010, the automaker announced a $600 million investment to support production of future 2012 models. The investment included building a 638,000 square foot body shop and installing new machinery, tools and equipment. Material handling equipment. On February 2, 2012, the automaker announced that his initial $600 million investment had increased to his $700 million, and that by the third quarter of 2012 he would add 1,800 jobs. This includes his nearly 500 men for the production of the all-new Dodge Dart (PF), a 3-2-120 operating pattern on July 23, 2012 (three crew members are His 10 hour day and 120 hour week in two shifts) was introduced.

2016 Dodge Darts Limited. (Dodge).

Dart production started on April 30, 2012 and ended on October 4, 2016.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles announced on July 14, 2016 that it will invest $350 million in Belvidere Assembly to produce the Jeep Cherokee. Jeep Cherokee will move from its current production base in Toledo, Ohio in 2017, creating about 300 new jobs. Cherokee production began on June 1, 2017. The factory returned to a two-shift operating pattern on May 6, 2019. On July 26, 2021, the factory started operations in his 1st shift.

Source: Rockford Register Star




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