The Stellantis Windsor assembly plant will return to an operation of three changes in early 2026, bringing up to 1,000 jobs.
The car manufacturer, previously known as Chrysler, says that the movement anticipates the “greater demand” of vehicles built in the facilities.
Local Unifor 444, the union that represents workers, estimates that it will take 1,000 people to execute the turn, which means new hiring and return.
“This is good news for the automotive industry,” said local Unifor 444, James Stewart. “It’s good news for Windsor. It’s good news for our community. It’s good news for our members.”
A company spokesman refused to discuss any detail about job numbers, saying that it was too early in the process.
The measure is produced in the midst of important winds against in the automotive sector due to the commercial war with the United States.
“This is a relief for our members and the automotive industry, and our parts suppliers … We have been containing our breathing for a long time, so this is a fresh air breath,” Stewart said.
The employees of the installation of 4.4 million square feet of Stellantis in Windsor, Ontario, build Chrysler Pacifica, Chrysler Grand Caravan and Dodge Charger, including electric vehicles and gasoline.
The plant has about 4,500 employees, according to union estimates, and is among the largest employers in the city of southwest Ontario.
It was an operation of three changes from 1993 to 2020. When the elimination of the third shift was announced, CBC reported that 1,500 positions would be reduced.
During the contract negotiations in 2023, Stellantis had promised to restore the third shift. In spring, the union said that Stellantis had postponed plans to reintroduce the third shift in the second half of this year to 2026.
Move reflects the “accumulated demand,” says the analyst
Despite the ravages in the automotive industry, an expert says that the measure is not so surprising.
There is “a lot of accumulated demand for products that are coming out of Windsor,” said Sam Fiorani of Autoforecast Solutions. “And we completely expect to continue in ’26 and beyond.”
While crossovers are much more popular than minivans, Pacifica sales are strong and continues to dominate their category in the North American market, he said.
Fioresi said Stellantis releasing a 2026 Dodge Charger’s gasoline version should boost sales. Earl this year, Stellantis He also announced plans to put his base of the EV loader in pause.
FIORANI Reality says that the EV market “is not yet there”, with electric vehicles that only represent from nine to 10 percent of US car sales. The transition has been slowed down for the cancellation of incentives, he said.
In Canada, the Federal Reimso EV program is in pause because the funds have been exhausted. In the United States, a tax credit for electric vehicles is canceled at the end of this month.
