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Stellantis, the automotive multinational behind Jeep and Fiat, has announced a $13 billion investment across four U.S. states – the company’s largest investment in more than 100 years of U.S. operations.
The new venture is set to create 5,000 new jobs in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois, reopening facilities such as the Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois, which is scheduled to recommence production in 2027.
$130 million of the $13 billion investment will go toward the Detroit Assembly Plant, the Michigan-based facility that will produce the next-generation Dodge Durango in 2029.
Many Michiganders have expressed enthusiasm for the project which is centring large-scale production in the Midwest. Among them is Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who said of Stellantis’ project:
“I am grateful to Stellantis for betting on Michigan once again, building on our work to bring more manufacturing back home. Over the last few years, Stellantis has expanded in Michigan, and we will continue working with them to make it easier to manufacture in Michigan.”
She added:
“We don’t care what you drive—gas, diesel, hybrid, or electric—as long as it’s made in Michigan. Together, let’s keep bringing manufacturing home, growing the middle class, and putting the world on wheels.”
Antonio Filosa, Stellantis CEO and North America COO, pledged his commitment to U.S. production, saying:
“This investment in the U.S. – the single largest in the company’s history – will drive our growth, strengthen our manufacturing footprint, and bring more American jobs to the states we call home.”
The announcement has sparked controversy among Canadian officials, who have raised concerns that the decision will compromise Stellantis’ production in Canada. Under the new plan, production of the Jeep Compass will move from Brampton, Ontario, to Illinois.
The move is likely influenced by trade tensions that began during Donald Trump’s administration, which imposed hefty tariffs on Canadian goods.
