For the second week in a row, Stellantis is shutting down one of the company’s big moneymakers, the Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit where it builds the Jeep Grand Cherokee, even as General Motors gets all the company’s truck plants back in operation next week.
Jefferson North closed temporarily Sept. 20, Stellantis spokesperson Jodi Tinson said in an email. The plant also will close the week of Sept. 27 because of the continuing semi-conductor shortage.
“Stellantis continues to work closely with our suppliers to mitigate the manufacturing impacts caused by the various supply chain issues facing our industry. Due to the unprecedented global microchip shortage, production at the Jefferson North (Detroit) Assembly Plant will be down the week of Sept. 27,” the automaker said in a statement.
The company said it also will temporarily close assembly plants in Belvidere, Illinois, Brampton, Ontario and Saltillo, Mexico. The Belvidere plant builds the Jeep Cherokee, while the Brampton plants builds sedans and muscle cars. The Saltillo plant builds the Ram pickup, which is another major source of Stellantis profits in North America.
Windsor plant to reopen
Stellantis, however, will resume production at its assembly plant in Windsor, Ontario, across the river from Detroit, where it builds the Pacifica minivan. As Stellantis juggled its supply of semiconductors to keep other vehicles rolling down production lines, the Windsor plant has been sidelined for several weeks since the crisis became more acute back at the beginning of February.
In addition, the company did get some good news about a labor dispute that also could threaten truck production. The United Auto Workers this week ended a brief strike for recognition at plant operated by ZF, which supplies axles for Jeep and for Ram trucks.
The walkout did not shutter production at plant, which also is staffed partially by UAW members covered by a contract with Stellantis that existed before ZF opened a new plant in Marysville, Michigan. ZF employees are not covered by a union contract, but the company and the UAW agreed to continue discussions around the issue of representation. The UAW is asking for representation via card check while ZF wants a formal vote supervised by the National Labor Relations Board.
GM Truck plants up and running
GM spokesperson David Barnas said GM plans to have all its truck plants will be in operation next week.
“We can confirm that production at Wentzville Assembly Missouri ill resume on Monday, Sept. 27 and that production at Lansing Delta Township, Michigan on Monday, Oct. 4.
“With Wentzville resuming operations, we expect that all of GM’s full-size SUV, full-size truck and mid-size truck plants in North American will be running regular production the week of Sept. 27,” he said.
GM also confirmed this week it had resumed production at its assembly plant in Fairfax, Kansas for the first time since February.