Stellantis Speeds Up Shipments Ahead of Tariffs

As the April 2 deadline for new tariffs on vehicles and parts from Canada and Mexico approaches, Stellantis is taking proactive steps to shield its operations from potential disruptions. The automaker is stockpiling crucial components at its U.S. plants and expediting shipments of key models produced in Canada and Mexico to keep dealer lots stocked.

“That’s not the way we would normally operate,” Stellantis Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Doug Ostermann stated during the Wolfe Research Virtual Autos Summit. “But in order to mitigate any short-term impact, we’ve been taking some steps.”

Stockpiling and Shipping Strategies – 

The anticipated 25% tariffs, part of President Donald Trump’s trade policies, pose a significant challenge for Stellantis, which manufactures essential models outside the U.S., including the Chrysler Pacifica and Voyager, Dodge Charger Daytona, Jeep® Compass, Wagoneer S, and Recon, and Ram Heavy Duty pickups. The company has increased collaboration with suppliers to amass parts that might be subject to import taxes.

Additionally, Stellantis is accelerating the production and delivery of Canada—and Mexico-built vehicles to U.S. dealerships. “When you look at the vehicles we produce in Canada and in Mexico, we have a pretty good supply on the ground right now with our dealers, 70 or 80 days,” Ostermann said.

Pushing for Fair Trade Policies – 

Stellantis continues to make its case to the U.S. government, emphasizing that many of its Canadian and Mexican-built vehicles already contain substantial American-made components.

“Even the products that are assembled in Mexico and Canada, many of them have very high U.S. content,” Ostermann noted. “That is opposed to these 4 million vehicles that come in from places like Korea, Japan, and Germany, that oftentimes have little to no U.S. content. So we feel if the U.S. administration wants to focus on supporting U.S. manufacturing, that’s a place for them to also take a look at.”

New Vehicle Launches to Bolster Market Share – 

Stellantis is also betting on a fresh wave of new and updated models to regain market share. The automaker is finally delivering high-end trims of the Ram 1500 that were delayed last year and ramping up sales of its refreshed Ram Heavy Duty trucks. Additionally, more budget-friendly Ram 1500 trims are expected to arrive this year to fill the gap left by the discontinued Ram 1500 Classic.

For Jeep, Stellantis is gearing up for the return of the Cherokee in late Q3 2025. The upcoming Cherokee (KM) will feature a hybrid 1.6-liter four-cylinder powertrain instead of a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) system. “We’ve seen our competitors do very well with those (hybrid) powertrains, so I’m excited to get our first one into the market,” Ostermann said.

Meanwhile, the Range-Extended Electric Vehicle (REEV) 2026 Ram 1500 Ramcharger pickup is set to debut later this year, offering buyers another electrified option within the Stellantis lineup.

Final Thoughts – 

With tariffs looming, Stellantis is swiftly moving to protect its supply chain and keep vehicles flowing to dealers. The automaker’s combination of stockpiling parts, accelerating vehicle deliveries, and rolling out new models aims to shield it from immediate disruptions while keeping it competitive in the evolving automotive landscape.