MARCH 23, 2024 — 400 ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOFTWARE EMPLOYEES TARGETED
Continuing with Stellantis’ “Dare Forward 2030” strategic plan that aims to increase profits, the company has targeted 400 salaried employees for layoffs commencing on March 31, 2024.
A company statement notes, “As the auto industry continues to face unprecedented uncertainties and heightened competitive pressures around the world, Stellantis continues to make the appropriate structural decisions across the enterprise to improve efficiency and optimize our cost structure. While we understand this is difficult news, these actions will better align resources while preserving the critical skills needed to protect our competitive advantage as we remain laser-focused on implementing our EV product offensive and our Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan.”
JANUARY 15, 2024 — 539 EMPLOYEES GONE
Effective immediately the company has announced that 539 supplemental employees across its U.S. manufacturing footprint are being "permanently separated" from the company following an evaluation of operations.
According to a company spokesperson, "As part of our normal course of business, Stellantis regularly analyzes staffing levels at our manufacturing facilities to ensure they are operating as efficiently as possible. This action will help improve the efficiency, productivity, and market competitiveness of our facilities as we implement our Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan."
DECEMBER 10, 2022 — IDLING JEEP PLANT
The company has announced that Belvidere Assembly Plant, which produces the Jeep Cherokee SUV, will cease production as of February 28, 2023, and more than 1,200 workers will be placed on indefinite layoffs.
According to a company spokesperson, “Our industry has been adversely affected by a multitude of factors like the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the global microchip shortage, but the most impactful challenge is the increasing cost related to the electrification of the automotive market. This difficult but necessary action will result in indefinite layoffs, which are expected to exceed six months. The pause will allow the company to consider other avenues to optimize operations. The company is working to identify other opportunities to repurpose the Belvidere facility and has no additional details to share at this time."
https://www.bizzbuzz.news/industry/auto/stellantis-to-shut-jeep-plant-in-us-lay-off-1200-in-ev-era-1184568
MARCH 28, 2022 — UNKNOWN NUMBER OF LAYOFFS AND RETIREMENTS IN BELVIDERE, ILLINOIS
The company announced that it would be laying off more employees at its Belvidere Assembly Plant beginning in May in order to allow the plant to operate in “a more sustainable manner.”
The decision appears to be driven by the declining sales of its Jeep Cherokee model. Speculation among auto industry analysts suggests that the Belvidere may be retooled to produce electric versions of the Dodge Challenger and Charger sports cars.
“The reductions will be achieved through a combination of retirement packages offered to eligible UAW-represented employees as well as layoffs of both hourly and salaried staff.” The layoffs could begin as early as May 27th, with retirements to take effect on May 31st, 2022
NOVEMBER 17, 2021 — 200 LAYOFFS IN TIPTON, INDIANA
The company has announced that it is laying off a 200-person crew at its Tipton Transmission Plant in Tipton, Indiana. The decision was driven by decreased production which the company is attributing to the global microchip shortage.
NOVEMBER 11, 2021 — 400 LAYOFFS IN BELVIDERE, ILLINOIS PLANT STARTING JANUARY 22, 2022
According to a company spokesperson, “As we continue to balance global sales with the production of the Jeep Cherokee produced at the Belvidere Assembly Plant, which has been further exacerbated by the unprecedented global microchip shortage, Stellantis has determined that additional staffing actions are needed as a result of changes in the plant’s operations. The company sent WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining
The workforce reduction will take effect as early as January 14, 2022.
FEBRUARY 25, 2021— AMERICAN INDIAN UPRISING?
Cherokee Nation Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. has directly asked Jeep to stop using the 45-year-old Cherokee name for the company’s iconic vehicles.
"I'm sure this comes from a place that is well-intended, but it does not honor us by having our name plastered on the side of a car. The best way to honor us is to learn about our sovereign government, our role in this country, our history, culture, and language, and have meaningful dialogue with federally recognized tribes on cultural appropriateness.”
I am not sure that the request is not an activist licensing ploy or a sincere desire to “honor” Native Americans. It seems that the best way to inform the public is to incorporate appropriate historical information in publications and commercials.
Will the Cherokee be today’s Pontiac?
FEBRUARY 24, 2021 — 150 LAYOFFS AT BELVEDERE, ILLINOIS ASSEMBLY PLANT
The company has announced the layoff of 150 employees on the Belvidere, Illinois Assembly Plant where the Jeep Cherokee SUV is produced.
According to a company spokesperson, "The Stellantis plant in Belvidere, Illinois, is rebalancing its staffing levels as it realigns production to meet global demand for the Jeep Cherokee. Following a review of its operations, 150 people will be indefinitely laid off, starting Feb. 20, 2021. The company will make every effort to place indefinitely laid-off hourly employees in open full-time positions as they become available based on seniority."
JANUARY 4, 2021 — MAJOR CHANGES AND LAYOFFS ARE ON THE HORIZON. FCA AND PSA COMBINE
Fiat Chrysler (FCA) and PSA are merging to create the world’s fourth-largest automaker named Stellantis,
Stellantis will have 14 brands, from FCA’s Fiat, Maserati, and U.S.-focused Jeep, Dodge, and Ram to PSA’s traditionally Europe-focused Peugeot, Citroen, Opel, and DS.
FCA CEO Mike Manley noted, “40% of the expected synergies from the merger will come from the convergence of platforms and powertrains and from optimizing R&D investments.”
“35% of synergies would be driven by savings on purchases, while another 7% would come from savings on sales operations and general expenses.”
“The remainder of the synergies are expected from the optimization of other functions including logistics, supply chain, quality, and after-market operations, he added.”
While the new company claimed they wouldn’t close any plants, they said nothing about reorganization and adjusting personnel and production to market demand.
JANUARY 30, 2020 — VOLUNTARY SEPARATION OFFERS TO 3,900 UNION EMPLOYEES
The company has offered “voluntary separation package”s to 3,900 full time, hourly workers at the company’s Belvidere Assembly Plant.
Beginning on February 17, 2020, the plant will halt production for one week, which follows a two-week halt in production in January 2020.
A company spokesperson claims that all of the company’s current actions of the company are to “realign production with demand.”
Employees with 25 years of seniority have been offered a maximum sum of $72,000, distributed over 29 months, and employees with less time with the company have been a proportionately-scaled deal.
Employees have been given until March 11, 2020, to accept the offer or be vulnerable to mandatory permanent layoffs.
MARCH 4, 2019 — Original post…
London, United Kingdom-based Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, the world’s eighth-largest automaker, has announced that it will be laying off 1,371 employees as it eliminates one out of three shifts at its Belvidere, Illinois Assembly Plant Assembly Plant. The plant assembles Jeep Cherokees including the Latitude, Latitude Plus, Limited, Trailhawk and Overland models. According to a company spokesperson, the decision was driven by globally slowing consumer demand for the current Jeep Cherokee.
Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere ... are you now wondering, Am I Next?