Stellantis Shifting Durango Production For Alfa Romeo SUV?
Alfa Romeo EV SUV To Be Built At JNAP As Durango Moves To Windsor?
Stellantis is making notable shifts in its production plans, with recent reports highlighting changes for both the Dodge Durango and a new Alfa Romeo electric SUV. While a leaked document from CocheSpias in May states the production of an all-electric Alfa Romeo E-segment SUV (codenamed A6U) at the Jefferson North Assembly Plant (JNAP), the Windsor Star has reported that the next-generation Dodge Durango (codenamed D6U) will be moving to the Windsor Assembly Plant in Ontario.
The upcoming Alfa Romeo SUV is set to be built on Stellantis’ STLA Large platform, a dedicated architecture for electric vehicles (EVs) offering a range of up to 500 miles (800 kilometers) on a single charge. This marks a significant step for Alfa Romeo as it seeks to strengthen its foothold in the North American market with a premium, all-electric SUV exclusively built for the U.S. and Canada. However, the leaked document shows modest sales projections, with Stellantis estimating around 2,000 units sold in the first year, growing to nearly 10,700 units by 2028. These figures are a fraction of the production volumes of the Dodge Durango, which sold 69,195 units in the U.S. alone in 2023.
The move of Durango production to Windsor, according to the Windsor Star, marks a major shift for the brand, as the model has traditionally been built at JNAP alongside the Jeep® Grand Cherokee. Currently, the Jeep Grand Cherokee (WL) is built at both JNAP and its sister facility, the Detroit Assembly Complex – Mack (DACM), located next door. With the upcoming production of the Alfa Romeo A6U and lower projected volumes, it remains a question whether Stellantis will consolidate production of the Grand Cherokee to just one plant. This uncertainty is further amplified by the recent decision to shift some three-row Grand Cherokee L production to Egypt.
The new Alfa Romeo SUV will be exclusively electric, in contrast to the upcoming Durango and Grand Cherokee models, which will offer both internal combustion engine (ICE) and battery-electric vehicle (BEV) options. This positions the A6U as a bold entry into the premium electric SUV segment, leveraging Stellantis’ global resources to meet regional market demands in North America.
Stellantis’ strategy to introduce the Alfa Romeo SUV at JNAP, a plant historically known for its production of high-volume ICE vehicles like the Durango, signals the automaker’s commitment to EV and expanding Alfa Romeo’s presence in the U.S. and Canadian markets. However, the lower projected sales of the Alfa Romeo SUV compared to the Durango raise questions about whether other models, like the Jeep Grand Cherokee, will see production changes to optimize facility usage.
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