In February 2023, multinational automotive manufacturer Stellantis halted production of the Jeep Cherokee at its Belvidere Assembly Plant.
The decision to indefinitely idle the plant was accompanied by the layoff of around 1,300 employees, creating broader economic uncertainty for the city of Belvidere.
In the years since the decision, the state of Illinois and the United Auto Workers have negotiated with Stellantis to facilitate the plant's reopening.
Calls to reopen the plant have been endorsed by former President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders, who visited the plant in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
Last Friday, Stellantis announced it would commit more than $800 million to the plant's reopening and prepare the site for future Jeep Cherokee assembly.
Following the announcement, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker issued a statement expressing enthusiasm over the investment.
"Today's announcement builds on Stellantis' commitment to bring thousands of good-paying jobs back to Belvidere and represents another major vote of confidence in Illinois workers and the future of Illinois manufacturing," Pritzker said in his Friday press release.
Stellantis says the next generation of Jeep Cherokees assembled at the Belvidere plant will utilize the STLA One platform, a modular design approach intended to reduce complexity and improve cost efficiency.
Pilot production for the STLA One platform in Belvidere is slated to begin in the first half of 2028, ahead of a formal retail launch during the second half of 2029.
Copy Edited by Eryn Lent
