Next-Gen Jeep® Compass To Start Production At Belvidere In 2027

The long-idle Belvidere Assembly Plant is officially getting its second wind—one that’s been years in the making and is now firmly locked into Stellantis’ updated manufacturing roadmap. After being idled in February 2023, the Belvidere, Illinois facility will return as a cornerstone of Stellantis’ U.S. footprint, building the next-generation Jeep® Compass (J4U) beginning in December 2027. And if that wasn’t enough, the plant will also take on the next-gen Jeep Cherokee lineup roughly a year later.

For a community that’s been battered by uncertainty since the shutdown, this is the major comeback they’ve been waiting for.

UAW: Early Signs of Movement Coming –

One of the clearest indicators that Belvidere’s revival is very real came directly from UAW leadership. UAW Local 1268 President Matt Frantzen laid out what workers can expect as the production timeline ramps up:

“We haven’t been told when members will start getting recalled back into the plant. With pilots slated to run in December 2026, we should see some earlier movement on recalls than I was expecting.”

That one sentence says a lot. The first pilot phase—known internally as Compass X0—is scheduled for December 2026, and typically, pilots bring early waves of activity back into a plant. These pilots aren’t full production builds, but they’re an essential part of the vehicle development and manufacturing process and require skilled employees on-site to validate tooling, processes, and early parts quality.

A Surprise Powertrain Shift for the Compass –

According to our sources, the upcoming Compass (J4U) will debut with a gasoline internal combustion engine (ICE) instead of the hybrid setup we discussed before. Earlier internal conversations pointed toward a hybrid-first strategy, but those plans have evolved. The latest information provided to us indicates the next-gen Compass will launch with a traditional gasoline powertrain paired with a mechanical all-wheel-drive (AWD) system, giving the compact Jeep a more conventional setup right out of the gate.

This shift aligns with Stellantis’ broader focus on offering more affordable and flexible powertrain options in North America, especially as hybrid and EV demand continues to fluctuate. Hybrid and electric variants are still expected to arrive later in the product cycle, but the decision to lead with an ICE/AWD configuration gives Jeep a stable, proven foundation as Belvidere ramps up production.

Inside the Stellantis Timeline: How Compass Gets Built –

Stellantis shared production details a couple of weeks ago during the UAW-Stellantis Council meeting, and the phased rollout gives us a clear picture of how the Compass and Cherokee programs will unfold.

Belvidere’s manufacturing timeline:

• Compass X0 Pilots — December 2026
  (Supplier Tooling Kick-Off milestone)

• Compass X1 Pilots — April 2027
  (Intermediate build used for validating early parts)

• Start of Production (SOP) — December 2027

• Cherokee X0 Pilots — Q4 2027

• Start of Production (SOP) — November 2028

These milestones fall under Stellantis’ updated manufacturing structure known as the Capacity Assessment (CAT) system, which replaced the old Production Demonstration Run (PDR) format. CAT is more modern, more data-driven, and breaks the process into specific checkpoints:

• X0 – Supplier Tooling Kick-Off
  This is when suppliers begin producing the tools needed to make the first parts. The “X0 pilots” built in December 2026 will use very early components and are mainly to verify tooling and basic assembly processes.

• X1 – Early Build Phase
  Occurring in April 2027, this step happens after the first tool-off parts (MPRM) and before full PPAP approval. It’s used to check early part quality, fitment, and production flow.

• X2 – PPAP Pilot (formerly Pre-Series)
  This is when Stellantis signs off on production-ready parts and conducts the first formal capacity run. It’s one of the final checks before full production.

• X3 – Capacity Run Before Production
  Happening roughly eight weeks before Start of Production, this is a multi-hour production test to ensure the line can run at real-world volume before Belvidere officially launches the Compass.

When UAW officials or Stellantis leadership refer to “pilots,” this is the structure they’re following.

A $600 Million Investment to Restore a Manufacturing Icon – 

One of the biggest winners in Stellantis’ massive U.S. investment plan—over $13 billion in total—is unquestionably Belvidere. Stellantis is committing over $600 million to reopen the assembly plant, retool the facility for the new Jeep Compass and Jeep Cherokee, and bring automotive jobs back to a region that’s relied on this plant for decades.

When everything is fully ramped up, the automaker expects to bring aboard approximately 3,300 workers between the Compass and Cherokee programs. That number includes new hires and returning workers who were displaced when the plant went idle.

This revival doesn’t just stabilize the assembly plant—it revitalizes an entire ecosystem of supporting suppliers, transportation networks, and local businesses that have spent years waiting for clarity on Belvidere’s future.

Once both programs are running at capacity, Belvidere is estimated to produce:

• 120,000 Compass models per year

• 130,000 Cherokee models per year

A possible third shift may be added in the second half of 2029 if demand warrants it.

Belvidere’s Second Chance –

This is more than just a reopening—it’s a full-scale rebirth. A plant once written off now has a clear roadmap, a confirmed product plan, and a workforce ready to get back to building some of Jeep’s most important vehicles. With Compass production starting in 2027, Cherokee following in 2028, and the potential for expanded shifts in 2029, Belvidere is once again poised to be a major anchor in Stellantis’ U.S. manufacturing network.

For the workers, the community, and the Jeep brand, this is the comeback story they’ve been waiting to write.