Stellantis is shedding staff at its meeting plant in Windsor, Ont., as the corporate shifts away from its electrical muscle automobile.
“A small number” of staff acquired layoff notices Friday, in response to Stellantis spokesperson LouAnn Gosselin.
“The layoffs are based on seniority and are a result of regular volume adjustments at the plant,” Gosselin mentioned.
The corporate wouldn’t verify the variety of impacted staff. The union representing the plant’s staff didn’t reply to a request for remark.
It additionally comes at a time of heightened anxiousness for auto staff in Canada, particularly these in Windsor, the place the financial system depends closely on the business.
Staff optimistic
Workers on the Windsor meeting plant have confronted short-term layoffs in current months because of U.S. President Donald Trump’s commerce conflict with Canada and levies on the auto sector — although carve-outs for merchandise that adjust to CUSMA, the international locations’ current commerce deal, have softened the blow.
The handful of staff who spoke to CBC Friday outdoors the Windsor meeting plant mentioned they anticipate staff to be again on the job earlier than lengthy.
“Could be a couple weeks,” Emanuele Caruana mentioned.
“Right now things aren’t looking too good, but they’re going to be good soon.”
Dave Lumley predicted laid-off staff can be again to work earlier than Christmas. (Emma Loop/CBC)
Dixon Bell described the layoffs as “not good” however mentioned he too believed staff can be introduced again ultimately.
Dave Lumley isn’t anxious in any respect, he mentioned, and predicted the employees can be again on the job earlier than Christmas.
“It’s just temporary,” he mentioned. “It’s just a small amount. That happens a lot. It comes and goes. It’s only 100 people.”
Lumley attributed the layoffs to modifications in Dodge Charger manufacturing on the plant.
“We have a battery area, and … we’re not building batteries,” he mentioned.
The 2-door 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T was one in all a number of fashions constructed on the Windsor Meeting Plant. (Stellantis)
“Everybody wants gas, so they’re trying to transition. That’s mainly what it is.”
In Could, Stellantis introduced that it was suspending manufacturing of the Dodge Charger Daytona R/T, the bottom mannequin of the first-of-their-kind electrified muscle vehicles, only a 12 months after introducing them with nice fanfare. The worldwide automaker has blamed U.S. tariffs for the choice, however the transfer additionally adopted weak gross sales amid a dampening EV market.
Staff on the Windsor plant assemble each the Chargers and the corporate’s minivan choices, together with the Chrysler Pacifica.
Final week, Stellantis unveiled the 2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack, geared up with an inline-six twin turbo engine, after months of pleading from gear heads to deliver again gas-powered variations of the beforehand in style muscle vehicles.
