Windsor Shutdown May Stall Dodge Charger SIXPACK Launch

Stellantis has hit the brakes at its Windsor Assembly Plant, and that could mean a delay for Dodge’s highly anticipated return to internal combustion engine (ICE) power with its 2026 Dodge Charger SIXPACK.

The Canadian facility, located just across the river from Detroit, was idled this past Monday. Although the shutdown is being called “temporary,” it’s expected to last at least two weeks—and possibly longer. This development is creating major uncertainty for both plant workers and local suppliers who rely heavily on the plant’s production schedule.

The timing couldn’t be worse. Dodge had just moved up the release date of the all-new ICE-powered Charger SIXPACK from late 2025 to June, in an effort to give dealers a much-needed sales boost. Sources close to MoparInsiders had indicated that Windsor was planning to begin production of the 2026 Dodge Charger lineup—both electric and gas-powered—starting in May.

But now, with the assembly line sitting silent, that May launch could slip. While no official delay has been announced by Stellantis or Dodge, the writing is on the wall: unless production resumes quickly, the SIXPACK’s rollout may be pushed back a few weeks.

The new Charger SIXPACK will mark a major milestone for Dodge fans. It’s a return to high-powered internal combustion muscle after the introduction of the all-electric Dodge Charger Daytona. The SIXPACK two-door model will pack a 550-horsepower, twin-turbo 3.0-liter HURRICANE I6 High-Output (H/O) engine—outperforming the outgoing 6.4-liter (392 cubic-inch) HEMI® V8. The four-door version gets a slightly tamer but still potent 420-horsepower Standard-Output (S/O) variant of the same engine. Both trims will come standard with all-wheel drive (AWD) and a new fourth-generation 8-speed 880RE automatic transmission that promises better performance and fuel economy.

Dealers across North America have been begging for a comeback like this. Early EV sales numbers for the 2024 and 2025 Charger Daytona have been disappointing. In Q1 2025, just 1,947 Charger EVs were sold in the U.S., with only 168 sold in Canada. Some dealerships are even struggling to move them with deep incentives already applied.

One Metro Detroit dealer general manager we spoke to, who asked to remain anonymous, didn’t hold back. “We can’t give these electric Chargers away,” he said. “We’ve only sold two new Charger EVs so far this year. The car looks great, people love the design and the performance stats on paper are impressive, but that doesn’t matter if you can’t get buyers to commit. The price is too high, and the real-world range just doesn’t cut it compared to what’s already out there.”

He continued, “We’ve got them sitting out front with big rebates on the windshield, and still no takers. And it’s not just us—it’s happening all over. Dodge pushed hard with the EV angle, but the muscle car crowd just isn’t there yet. We’ll keep ordering plug-in hybrids like Grand Cherokee and Wrangler 4xes, but full EVs? We’re done ordering those for inventory until something changes.”

Dodge will adapt by limiting EV sales to custom orders for the 2026 model year, our sources say.

Still, it all hinges on Windsor. Until Stellantis provides more clarity about the plant’s future in the coming days, both customers and dealers will be left holding their breath—and hoping the SIXPACK doesn’t get stuck in neutral before it even hits the road.