Stellantis to Build New Three-Row Dodge SUV at Windsor by 2026

Stellantis’ Windsor Assembly Plant, a long-standing facility for the automaker, is set for a major transformation over the next few years. According to AutoForecast Solutions Vice President of Global Vehicle Forecasting, Sam Fiorani, the plant, which was recently reduced to producing just one product, is expected to manufacture four different vehicles by the end of 2026. Among these new additions is a three-row Dodge SUV that will replace the current Dodge Durango.

“Currently, they’re (Stellantis) looking at a three-row Dodge SUV coming before the end of 2026 at Windsor,” Fiorani said. “It will replace the Dodge Durango being produced alongside the Jeep® Grand Cherokee at (Detroit’s) Jefferson North Avenue plant. The new SUV will be on the STLA Large platform they’re using in Windsor.”

The current Dodge Durango is scheduled to cease production in 2027. The new three-row SUV will be part of Stellantis’ shift toward their STLA Large platform, which supports a range of powertrains, including electrified options. This platform will also underpin other upcoming models slated for production at the Windsor facility.

In addition to the new Dodge SUV, Fiorani has reported that a two-row Chrysler crossover will begin production at Windsor Assembly in early 2026. This new Chrysler model will be the brand’s first new offering since the re-introduction of the Pacifica nameplate in 2017. “Windsor has been a solid plant for decades now for the company,” Fiorani remarked, underscoring the strategic importance of the Windsor Assembly Plant in Stellantis’ production plans.

Fiorani also provided an update on the production timeline for the electric Dodge Charger Daytona. Initially set to begin production in June 2024, the Charger Daytona is now scheduled to enter mass production in the final quarter of the year. “It’s scheduled to be produced in the thousands in the last quarter of the year,” Fiorani said. “They’ll start to trickle into dealerships before Christmas.” He also noted that the combustion-engine version of the Charger Daytona would follow in the first half of 2025.

The delay in the Charger Daytona’s production comes as Stellantis ensures that all potential issues are resolved before its market debut. “This is a very important move forward for the company,” Fiorani explained. “This is a new platform with new technology for Stellantis and Windsor. Having delays is not unexpected.”

Meanwhile, the Chrysler Pacifica minivan, which has been a staple of the Windsor Assembly Plant, is expected to continue production with only minor updates. “It (Pacifica) will stay pretty much the same, but they’ll make some tweaks to it until 2029,” Fiorani stated. Despite the lack of major changes, the minivan segment remains stable, with about 400,000 vehicles sold annually in the U.S. and slightly more in Canada. “There’s not a lot of growth in the market, but the buyers are very loyal,” Fiorani added.

In a related development, Stellantis has scheduled a second vehicle for production at the Brampton Assembly Plant, which is currently being retooled to manufacture the next-generation Jeep® Compass. This move to shift the Durango replacement to Windsor means that no Dodge vehicles will be assembled in the United States, marking a significant shift in Stellantis’ production strategy.

Sources: Windsor Star / AutoForecast Solutions