Belvidere assembly plant to reopen

Chrysler parent Stellantis announced plans to build a new midsize pickup truck at the assembly plant in Belvidere. The shuttered plant is expected to reopen in 2027, restoring more than 1,500 union jobs and sparking growth for suppliers and contractors in the area.

“I am thrilled by the announcement that Stellantis will resume production,” said Tom McNamara, mayor of Rockford and chair of the Northern Illinois Council of Governments(NorthCOG), a partnership through which counties, municipalities, and other local governmental bodies coordinate their efforts.

”The [council], has worked tirelessly alongside state and federal partners to advocate for the reopening of this facility, recognizing its vital importance to our entire region. This decision not only restores jobs for Stellantis employees but also revitalizes opportunities for the facility’s suppliers,” McNamara said.

On the day of the Stellantis announcement, local officials reacted to the good economic news in a press release from NorthCOG.

“Today is a great day for Belvidere, for the employees of the Belvidere Assembly Plant, and for our region,” said Belvidere Mayor Clint Morris.

“Winnebago, Boone, and all of northern Illinois will benefit from the job and economic development opportunities that will follow,” said Winnebago County Chairman Joe Chiarelli.
Pamela Lopez-Fettes, CEO/COO of Growth Dimensions Economic Development, acknowledged the role state and local officials played in making the reopening possible: “Representative Vella and Senator Stadelman championed the much needed changes in legislation to make us more competitive, and the governor responded quickly to implement legislation that changed the climate for the automotive industry in Illinois.”

The announcement from Stellantis comes after John Elkann, chair of the Italian-American automaker, met with President Donald Trump to discuss the company’s U.S. investment strategy and express their shared “enthusiasm for his strong commitment to the United States auto industry and all that this means for American jobs and the broader economy.”

In addition to reopening the Belvidere plant, Stellantis announced that the next generation of the Dodge Durango will be built at its Detroit Assembly Complex. The company also committed renewed investment in its production and assembly plants in Toledo, Ohio and Kokomo, Indiana.
“These actions are part of our commitment to invest in our U.S. operations to grow our auto production and manufacturing here,” North America Chief Operating Officer Antonio Filosa stated in a letter to employees. “We have shared with the UAW all these actions and our desire to work together to strengthen our great company.”

Considering the impact of this news on the business community, Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce CEO Angela Kay Larson believes that the reopening of the plant adds to the current momentum and positive outlook for the region.

“Anytime a major manufacturer brings back or increases production, we see a ripple effect. Employees, suppliers, distributors, and customers all benefit from a strong manufacturing sector,” she said. “We look forward to collaborating with our fellow economic development partners to support Stellantis and UAW workers as they embark on reopening the plant.”