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Stellantis Idles More North American Plants As Semiconductor Shortages Continues!

Jefferson, Windsor, & Belvidere Get More Downtime...

In what seems to be becoming a routine occurrence, Stellantis has once again temporarily laid-off employees at several of its North American facilities due to the ongoing semiconductor shortage. The semiconductor shortage continues to hit the automotive industry hard and it doesn’t seem to be getting better anytime soon according to the latest news reports. Semiconductors have become the backbone of today’s automotive industry, controlling electronic features like driver-assist technologies, hybrid-electric systems, and even infotainment connectivity.

2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat on the line at Detroit Assembly Complex – Jefferson formerly JNAP. (Dodge).

A letter was sent to employees at the Jefferson North Assembly Plant (JNAP), which is now part of the Detroit Assembly Complex on Detroit’s east side, about a week-long temporary layoff that will start this next week. A copy of the letter was obtained by MoparInsiders.com on Friday evening from plant employees, which you can see below.

Notice of Shutdown for Jefferson North employees. (Stellantis Labor Relations).

The JNAP facility currently manufactures the popular Jeep® Grand Cherokee (WK2) and Dodge Durango (WD) sport utility models. The 3-million square-foot plant employees 5,155 (4,888 hourly, 267 salaried) on a 3-2-120 operating pattern.

2021 Chrysler Pacifica Limited AWD rolling off the Windsor Assembly Plant line. (Chrysler).

Stellantis will also extend the shutdown of the Windsor Assembly Plant (WAP), which builds the Chrysler brand’s successful lineup of minivans – the Chrysler Pacifica, Chrysler Grand Caravan (Canada market), and Chrysler Voyager (U.S. market)

The WAP facility has faced several shutdowns recently. After being idled throughout the end of March and all of June, the plant returned to production in early July. WAP then had a scheduled summer shutdown for the weeks of August 16th and 23rd. Employees were then notified that production for the weeks of August 30th and September 6th, would continue to be shut down due to ongoing semiconductor shortages. That was extended for the weeks of September 13th and 20th. 

A Chrysler Pacifica enters the pre-treatment bath during the initial phase of the painting process at the Windsor Assembly Plant. (Chrysler).

On Thursday, Unifor union reps were notified that employees would not be returning back to work on September 27th, due to the continued shortages. The extended notice had several WAP employees express their frustrations on social media. Stellantis like many other automakers have told most of their blue-collar workforce that scheduling was being released on a week-to-week basis, early in the semiconductor crisis.

A Chrysler Pacifica has sealer applied to its underbody at the Windsor Assembly Plant. (Chrysler).

The increased downtime means that not one minivan was produced during the entire month of September, a huge blow to the Chrysler brand and its dealer body.

WAP currently has a workforce of 4,398 employees (4,213 hourly, 185 salaried) on two shifts.

Workers use skillets to “marry” the chassis to the body of a Jeep® Cherokee at the Belvidere Assembly Plant. (Stellantis).

UAW officials were notified on Thursday, that the Belvidere Assembly Plant (BAP) in Illinois will shut down on Monday, September 27th. The plant currently produces the slow-selling Jeep Cherokee (KL) and to the combination of slow sales and the semiconductor shortage, the Belvidere plant has been the Stellantis plant most affected by the ongoing situation. Employees are expected to return to work on Monday, October 4th. 

Notice of Shutdown for Belvidere Assembly employees. (Stellantis Belvidere Human Resources).

“Stellantis continues to work closely with our suppliers to mitigate the manufacturing impacts caused by the various supply chain issues facing our industry,” a Stellantis spokesperson told MoparInsiders via e-mail.

Robert S. Miller

Robert S. Miller is a diehard Mopar enthusiast who lives and breathes all that is Mopar. The Michigander is not only the Editor for MoparInsiders.com, 5thGenRams.com, and HDRams.com but an automotive photographer. He is an avid fan of offshore powerboat racing, which he travels the country to take part in.

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Could the shut down of the Jefferson North Assembly Plant be due to plant changes needed to build the new 2022 Grand Cherokee?

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Wonder if this new article is true about SHAP going to mandatory 7 day work weeks for next 90 days

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Could the shut down of the Jefferson North Assembly Plant be due to plant changes needed to build the new 2022 Grand Cherokee?

WL74 five passenger 2022 Grand Cherokee starts production next week at the new Mack Assembly plant.

Jefferson was scheduled to go into downtime in December, but my guess is that won't be retooled and producing WL74 until this time next year. Having WK2 and WL74 being produced side by side isn't so bad.

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WL74 five passenger 2022 Grand Cherokee starts production next week at the new Mack Assembly plant.

Jefferson was scheduled to go into downtime in December, but my guess is that won't be retooled and producing WL74 until this time next year. Having WK2 and WL74 being produced side by side isn't so bad.

When will the WL74 reveal happen?

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When will the WL74 reveal happen?

Probably November. Grand Cherokee moves serious volume and has a loyal following - they aren't going to start selling them until they build a 10,000 vehicle buffer they can ship out nationwide.

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