Stellantis will reopen its shuttered Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois to build a new mid-size truck by 2027, but plans to add an EV battery plant and parts hub at the site have been canceled.
The update, shared by UAW Local 1268 President Matt Frantzen, marks a scaled-back version of the ambitious redevelopment initially tied to the automaker’s 2023 labor agreement with the union. Initially, the automaker shuttered the plant in February 2023 as part of a broader cost-cutting strategy.
Frantzen confirmed via email to Automotive Dive that workers were told late last year that the “Mega Hub and Battery plant weren’t going to be put in here.” Instead, Stellantis will focus on refurbishing the facility for truck production—a process that could take up to 18 months once underway.
Stellantis spokesperson Jodi Tinson confirmed the company’s commitment to restarting operations in Belvidere. However, she did not comment on the canceled battery plant.
Furthermore, the company has not disclosed whether the new mid-size truck will be powered by gas, electricity, or a hybrid system. Nonetheless, Tinson noted it is expected to “take full advantage of our multi-energy capabilities.”
As part of the original October 2023 UAW-Stellantis labor agreement, the company had committed to adding an EV battery facility alongside vehicle production. The battery plant was also connected to a $1.7 billion U.S. Department of Energy initiative supporting EV manufacturing, which included a $335 million award to Stellantis for the Belvidere site.
Despite that funding, Stellantis is no longer moving forward with the battery facility. The UAW local expected about 1,500 jobs with the reopening. However, Frantzen noted that the union represents around 1,800 workers, and some of them have indicated that they do not plan to return.
The Belvidere Assembly Plant’s future remains a focal point for both the automaker and organized labor as Stellantis navigates its transition toward multi-energy vehicle production in North America.
