Although there is no confirmation about the closure, Stellantis has scrapped its Illinois battery hub plans for EVs but will revive its Belvidere plant to build mid-size trucks.
Stellantis has recently decided to move forward with plans to reopen its shuttered assembly plant in Belvidere, Illinois, in the US in 2027, but has scrapped earlier intentions to build an EV battery facility and parts hub.
The automaker aims to restart operations at the Belvidere site, producing a new mid-size truck, according to a report by the Automotive Dive. However, getting the plant fully operational could take up to 18 months.
Stellantis spokesperson Jodi Tinson confirmed plans to reopen the plant but declined to comment on the cancelled battery project.
The Belvidere Assembly Plant was closed in February 2023 as part of a broader cost-cutting initiative. Stellantis has announced that it will create approximately 1500 jobs at the revamped site. However, according to the report, United Auto Workers Local 1268 President Matt Frantzen noted that the union previously represented approximately 1800 workers and some have stated they do not plan to return.
It remains unclear what kind of powertrain the new truck will feature. Tinson said it will leverage Stellantis’ multi-energy capabilities, hinting at the potential for electric or hybrid models.
Stellantis was awarded $335 million from a $1.7 billion US Department of Energy grant to convert idle or at-risk facilities for EV production. Despite the funding, the battery project in Illinois will no longer go ahead.
