2,450 auto workers at Stellandis NV’s Warren Truck Assembly Plant could be laid off indefinitely in early October as the plant’s general assembly moves from two to one-shift operations once production of the Ram 1500 Classic pickup ends, the automaker said Friday. .
Stellandis was filing a worker adjustment and retraining notice with state, local government and the United Auto Workers. The total layoffs in Warne’s letter are expected to begin Oct. 8 at the plant, which employs about 3,900 people, including about 3,700 UAW-represented workers. The plant will continue to manufacture the Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer SUVs.
Stellandis is introducing an updated version of the Ram 1500 truck for the 2025 model year at its Sterling Heights assembly plant. When it introduced the pickup’s fifth generation for 2019, the company said it would continue to make the previous generation a “classic” for value-conscious buyers and extended its production beyond expectations.
“The Ram 1500 Classic is a great entry point for Ram and the Tradesman model has represented the needs of commercial truck customers well for years,” company spokeswoman Jody Tinson said in a statement. “We’re introducing the new 2025 Ram 1500 Tradesman with incredible value and content.”
Veteran employees who are laid off indefinitely will receive 52 weeks of company-provided supplemental unemployment benefits, 52 weeks of transition assistance, and two years of health care coverage. This is in addition to state unemployment benefits.
Other activities outside the general assembly within the plant to support vehicle production are in two shifts. Stellandis sold nearly 30,000 wagons in the first half of the year, up 119% year-on-year, up 43% to 7,600 grand wagons. Last year’s UAW contract, which expires in 2028, included $400 million in mid-cycle plant updates, range-extended models and all-electric versions of full-size SUVs in a $19 billion investment deal.
According to Stellandis’ website, the Ram 1500 Classic starts at $38,705. The ’25 RAM 1500 starts at $39,420.
The Stellandis has upgraded the Hurricane straight-six turbo engine to the vehicle for improved fuel efficiency to lower the cost of ownership, an improved electrical architecture and a platform for technologies that support commercial fleet monitoring and safety systems such as Forward Collision Warning Plus and Adaptive Cruise Control. It offers electrification opportunities with the all-electric RAM 1500 REV and the generator-backed electric Ramcharger due to be introduced later this year and early next year, respectively. Those options will no longer be available to comply with future fuel economy and emissions regulations, the company said.
Every automotive assembly job has a huge multiplier effect on jobs in their communities, from auto suppliers to downtown bars and restaurants. Bridgewater Interiors also filed a warning in late July, disclosing the layoff of 63 employees on Sept. 30 at a facility in Detroit. UAW Local 600 President Tony Richards said they were concerned about the job cuts in Warren.
With the plant outage, Motor City Sports Bar & Grill Stellandi’s across Mount Road from the plant is seeing a 60% drop in business, owner Maria Nukulaj said. The layoffs are particularly bad news for business after fluctuations in production at the plant in recent months and customers cut back on luxuries due to higher living costs.
“It affects all businesses,” Nukulaj said. “There’s a domino effect. Everyone’s going to feel it. It’s been changing a lot lately, and not in a good direction. In the afternoon, when we used to have a whole counter of people trying to get lunch, we used to have one customer here. Now, there’s nobody.”
Less business meant he had to make his own layoffs and shifts, he said. All of that reflects the state of the economy, he said, and affects how he thinks about the presidential election in November.
“Free trade has to change,” Nukulaj said. “The jobs have to stay here. The people making the cars couldn’t afford them because they were being outsourced to Mexico.
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