As many as 2,450 autoworkers at Stellantis NV’s Warren, Michigan, Truck Assembly Plant could be laid off indefinitely in early October as the plant’s general assembly moves to a one-shift operation from two with the end of production of the Ram 1500 Classic pickup, the automaker said Friday.
Stellantis was filing a worker adjustment and retraining notification with the state, local government and the United Auto Workers. The layoffs, which are likely to be lower than the total in the WARN letter, are expected to begin as early as Oct. 8 at the plant that employs approximately 3,900 people, including about 3,700 UAW-represented employees. The plant will continue to produce the Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer SUVs.
Stellantis is launching a refreshed version of the Ram 1500 truck for the 2025 model year at the Sterling Heights Assembly Plant. When it debuted the fifth generation of the pickup for 2019, the company said it would continue to build the previous-generation as a “Classic” for value-focused buyers and extended its production longer than expected.
“The Ram 1500 Classic has been a great entry point pickup for Ram and the Tradesman model has well represented the needs of commercial truck customers for years,” the company said in a statement sent by spokesperson Jodi Tinson. “We introduced the new 2025 Ram 1500 Tradesman with incredible value and content.”
Indefinitely laid-off represented seniority employees will receive 52 weeks of company-provided supplemental unemployment benefits, 52 weeks of transition assistance and two years of health-care coverage. That would be in addition to state unemployment benefits.
Other operations outside of general assembly within the plant will remain on two shifts to support Wagoneer production. Stellantis sold almost 30,000 Wagoneers in the first half of the year, up 119% year-over-year, and close to 7,600 Grand Wagoneers, up 43%. The automaker in its $19 billion investment commitments in last year’s UAW contract that expires in 2028 specifies $400 million to the plant for mid-cycle refreshes, range-extended models and all-electric versions of the full-size SUVs.
The Ram 1500 Classic starts at $38,705, according to Stellantis’ website. The ’25 Ram 1500 starts at $39,420.
Stellantis has highlighted the Hurricane Straight Six Turbo engine on the vehicle for improved fuel efficiency to lower the cost of ownership, an upgraded electrical architecture for technologies that support commercial fleet tracking and safety systems like Forward Collision Warning Plus and Adaptive Cruise Control, and a platform that offers electrification opportunities with the all-electric Ram 1500 REV and generator-supported electric Ramcharger set to launch before the end of the year and early next year, respectively. Those options otherwise wouldn’t have been available to enable future compliance with fuel economy and emissions regulations, according to the company.
Bridgewater Interiors at the end of July also filed a WARN, disclosing the layoff of 63 employees around Sept. 30 at a facility in Detroit. UAW Local 600 President Tony Richards said those are related to the job cuts at Warren.
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