On the Dash:
- Stellantis halted production at its Warren Truck plant for at least three weeks following a Sept. 16 fire at supplier Novelis.
- The aluminum shortage is delaying the 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer launch and affecting multiple automakers, including Ford.
- Novelis expects partial operations at its Oswego, New York, facility to resume early next year as restoration efforts continue.
Production at Stellantis NV’s Warren Truck Assembly Plant in Michigan has been halted for at least three weeks following a fire at an aluminum supplier’s facility in New York. Crain’s Detroit Business was the first to report that the plant had been idled. The fire, which broke out on September 16 at Novelis Inc.’s Oswego plant, disrupted the supply of aluminum sheets used in vehicle manufacturing, forcing Stellantis to idle operations.
The Warren Truck plant, where Stellantis builds the Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer SUVs, is expected to remain down through the end of October due to material shortages and is slated to resume the week of November 3. The shutdown will also delay the launch of the refreshed 2026 Grand Wagoneer until late November.
The affected supplier, Novelis Inc., provides about 40% of the aluminum sheet used across the automotive industry. The damage to its hot mill has affected supply chains for roughly a dozen automakers. Ford Motor Co. is considered particularly vulnerable, as its high-margin F-Series trucks rely heavily on aluminum components. Production at Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant, which builds the Expedition and Lincoln Navigator, was reportedly reduced in recent weeks, according to reports by The Detroit News.
Ford has not confirmed the full extent of the impact but has said it is working to minimize disruptions by leveraging multiple suppliers. Meanwhile, Novelis stated that it expects to restore operations at the affected section of its Oswego facility early next year, while other parts of the plant remain active.
