Stellantis to Lay Off Second Shift at Warren Truck Plant

Stellantis (FCA US, LLC) has announced plans to lay off as many as 2,450 workers at its Warren Truck Assembly Plant (WTAP) in Warren, Michigan, as the automaker prepares to end production of the Ram 1500 Classic (DS). The decision will reduce the plant’s operations to a single shift, focusing solely on the manufacturing of the full-size Jeep® Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer (WS) SUV.

The layoffs are set to begin on October 8th, through according to a notice Stellantis filled with the state, the actual number of workers affected may be lower than initially projected.

The announcement comes after the automaker previously cut one of the two daily production shifts at the plant in July, describing the move as a temporary reduction in output. However, with the Ram 1500 Classic nearing the end of its production run, Stellantis is making more permanent changes as part of a broader cost-cutting strategy led by CEO Carlos Tavares.

WTAP is a significant facility within Stellantis’ operations, covering 3.31 million square feet and sitting on 86.8 acres of land. The plant currently produces the Jeep Wagoneer, Wagoneer L, Grand Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer L, and the Ram 1500 Classic (Quad Cab and Crew Cab). Currently, the plant employs about 3,585 people, with around 3,360 of them as hourly workers and 225 salaried employees, represented under UAW Local 889, 140, and 412.

WTAP has a rich history, having been in operation since 1938. Over the years, the plant has produced a wide range of vehicles, including the Dodge Dakota and various generations of the Ram 1500. The plant’s long-standing tradition of truck manufacturing has seen the production of over 6.7 million trucks from 1938 to 1985.

Key milestones in the plant’s history include the introduction of the Dodge Dakota in 1987, the launch of the Ram 1500 in 1993, and the production of the Mitsubishi Raider (a variant of the Dakota built specifically for Mitsubishi) in 2005. The Ram 1500, which has been a cornerstone of the plant’s output, saw several iterations, including the award-winning 2009 model and the 2013 and 2014 Motor Trend Truck of the Year titles.

In recent years, the plant underwent significant investments to modernize and retool for new production lines. In 2017, FCA US, LLC announced a $1 billion investment to prepare the plant for the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer SUVs. This investment was later increased to $1.5 billion in 2019, including tooling for electrified versions of these SUVs, which are scheduled to debut sometime next year.

Despite the layoffs, Stellantis has committed to providing a year of supplemental unemployment benefits, transition assistance, and healthcare coverage for affected workers.