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Facts & Figures: Detroit Assembly Complex – Mack

Site History:

• 1916: Michigan Stamping Company, first automotive use for the Mack site
• 1920: Briggs Manufacturing purchases plant
• 1953: Chrysler Corporation purchases Briggs Manufacturing, acquires Mack property
• 1975: Chrysler builds 1 million-square-foot expansion next to the “Old Mack” plant
• 1982: Chrysler closes Old Mack, sells it to city of Detroit for redevelopment
• 1982-1989: Old Mack sits idle
• 1990: City of Detroit and Chrysler begin extensive cleanup of Old Mack site
• 1995: Old Mack plant leveled and entire site cleaned up
• 1991-1995: Dodge Viper produced at “New Mack” before it was moved to Conner Avenue Assembly plant
• 1996: Construction of Mack Engine begins; opens in 1998 to produce V-8 engines
• 2000: Mack Engine II construction completed; produces V-6 engines
• 2012: Mack Engine II idled
• 2019: $1.6 billion investment announced to turn Mack Engine Complex into new assembly site for the all-new, three-row Jeep® Grand Cherokee, next-generation Grand Cherokee and electrified models

Plant Overview:

• More than 100 years of manufacturing on Mack site
• First new assembly plant in the city of Detroit in 30 years
• Investment: $1.6 billion (announced February 2019)
• New jobs: 3,850; commitment to putting Detroiters first in the application process
  • 2,100 Detroiters have filled the new positions
• Construction: Began in Q2 2019; completed in less than two years
• Total floor space: 3 million square feet
• Acreage: 266
• Operating pattern: Three shifts, five days per week
• Employment: ~4,900
• Total production time: ~36 hours
• Three main production facilities: Body shop, paint shop and general assembly
• Logistics: 770 inbound trucks per day; 76 trucks and 95 railcars outbound per day

Body Shop:

• Building: Formerly Mack Engine II; idled in 2012
• Floor space: 650,000 square feet
• Robots: 578
• Production time: 2 hours

Net Form & Pierce
A net form is created for the Jeep Grand Cherokee L to establish the perfect dimensional environment to hang panels, such as the hood, liftgate, doors and fenders, before the body is pierced. Robots measure the gaps and fits to ensure they are symmetrical. There are 26 robots in the cell.

Near-line Laser Radar
Radar technology is mounted on robots to measure hundreds of preprogrammed surface and alignment points to verify the build process. This 45-minute validation test is performed on a select number of vehicles across all three production shifts and complements the inline measurement system that measures every Jeep Grand Cherokee L coming through the body shop.

Paint Shop:

• Building: All-new facility
• Floor space: 800,000 square feet (five floors)
• Robots: 124
• Production time: 12 hours
• Colors: 11
• Process: Fully automated; 100% robotic spray application
  2. Phosphate E-coat: First layer of corrosion protection
  4. Sealer: 28 robots; ~208 feet of sealer applied per car to prevent leaks, corrosion and wind noise
  6. Primer: 8 robots; provides smooth base layer and enhances paint durability
  8. Base paint coat: 21 robots (10 painting and 11 “opening”)
  10. Clear coat: Final protective coating
  12. Finesse and polish: Identify and remove any imperfections to ensure smooth paint finish

General Assembly:

• Building: Formerly Mack Engine I; built the Pentastar engine family until December 2019
• Floor space: 1,000,000 square feet
• Stages: Trim, Chassis, Final
  • Trim: Installation of sunroof, wiring harness, major electrical, instrument panel and windshield, rear and half glass
  • Chassis: Engine dress; engine and chassis marriage; body and chassis decking; hose and electrical connections; fluid fill and functionality testing
  • Final:Installation of seats, steering wheel, major components; doors hung; wheels and tires; electrical test
    • Final validation: Aligners, headlight aim, rolls, ADAS (Automated Driver Assist System); BSR test track; inline water test; certification line

Buzz, Squeak and Rattle (BSR) Test Track:

• Completely enclosed
• Length: 2,000 feet
• 100% of vehicles tested
• Total test time: 3 minutes
• Simulates real-world driving conditions
• 11 different elements, including pot holes, manhole covers, rumble strips, cobblestones, speed bumps, gravel, Figure 8

BSR Shaker:

• Additional validation beyond test track
• Electro servo shaker, first of its kind in North America
• Test time replicating BSR track: 2 minutes, 40 seconds
• Additional testing of more aggressive conditions: 3-5 minutes

Inline Water Test:

• 100% of vehicles tested
• Total test time: 3 minutes
• 600 nozzles delivering water at 30 psi
• Additional validation performed in Nine Position Water Test; simulates different terrain (hills and inclines) and weather conditions

 

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Trailer for Detroit Assembly Complex - Mack Documentary

Stellantis will celebrate the launch of the Detroit Assembly Complex - Mack plant and the progress on those commitments with the release of a 15-minute documentary film on July 28, featuring the people instrumental in bringing the project to life and those who have partnered with the Company to bring meaningful change to the city.

 

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Stellantis reinstates mask mandate at local plants

Carson Gerber, Kokomo Tribune, Ind.
Fri, July 30, 2021, 6:20 PM

Carson Gerber, Kokomo Tribune, Ind.
Fri, July 30, 2021, 6:20 PM


Jul. 30—Workers and visitors at the Stellantis plants in Kokomo and Tipton will once again be required to wear masks as the number of new COVID-19 cases rise in the area.
The company said the mandate will take affect Monday and is required for everyone inside the facilities, regardless of a person's vaccination status.
A company spokesperson said the mask mandate is only being reinstated at its Indiana facilities and the Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois. The decision was based on CDC data regarding new COVID cases and positivity rates in the area, as well as its own internal data.
According to the Indiana State Department of Health, Tipton County on Friday was at orange status and had a seven-day positivity rate of nearly 19%, which is currently the highest in the state. Howard County was also recently elevated from the blue to yellow status.

"Protecting the health and safety of our Stellantis workforce continues to be our top priority," the company said in a statement. "As COVID cases are once again increasing in communities across the country, we continue to strongly advocate that our employees consider getting vaccinated."
The reinstated mandate comes less than a month after the company lifted the restriction on July 12 following a decision by a virus task force with representatives from Ford, General Motors, Stellantis and the United Auto Workers. The policy change applied to all U.S. auto workers from the three companies.

In June, Stellantis also lifted other COVID precautions at its plants, including taking workers' temperatures and the 10-minute cleaning routine that had been in place for over a year. Staggered shifts also stopped.

A company spokesperson said those measures are not being reinstated at this time.

 

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Stellantis Windsor Assembly Plant Recognized for Energy Reduction
20 August 2021
Autosphere

The Chrysler Pacifica rolls off the final line at the FCA US Windsor Assembly Plant ahead of the previous generation minivan, the Dodge Grand Caravan. The Company spent $744 million to retool the plant to produce the Pacifica. PHOTO Stellantis

The Stellantis Windsor Assembly Plant (WAP) has been recognized by the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) for the 2021 Canada Region Energy Project of the Year.
The plant’s winning project reduced energy usage in the paint shop by 20,250 gigajoules (GJ) or 8% annually of the topcoat process, the equivalent of the electricity used in 490 homes in one year.
The WAP energy management team was awarded for key process improvements implemented during the topcoat paint application process as part of its “Topcoat Observation Booth Downdraft Optimization” project.
“Our energy management team at the Windsor Assembly Plant has once again risen to the challenge with their dedication and leadership in eliminating energy losses and enhancing eco-friendly efficiencies within our plant and throughout our company overall,” said Jon Desjardins, WAP Plant Manager.
“I’m very proud of their continued efforts in creating a positive and sustainable environmental footprint.”
“I’d like to congratulate Stellantis on their recent Regional AEE Energy Project of the Year award in the Canada Region,” said Melanie Claus, Membership Director of the AEE.
“Identifying top energy losses and developing solutions that can be standardized is a perfect representation of what AEE members are doing to further advance the energy efficiency industry.”
Topcoat Observation Booth Downdraft Optimization
At the Windsor plant, which builds the Chrysler Pacifica, Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, Chrysler Grand Caravan and Chrysler Voyager (U.S. market) minivans, a new vehicle rolls off the line every 48 seconds.
It takes approximately 27 hours to complete a vehicle, with 8-10 of those hours spent in the paint shop.
A recent onsite study conducted by the plant’s energy management team identified opportunities to reduce energy consumption in the paint shop.
A detailed assessment that began in November 2019 confirmed that the topcoat process was a top source for energy loss in the paint shop.
The energy management team determined that energy could be saved by optimizing the downdraft airflow in the three paint booths.
In the booths, there are 18 air houses that pump in the fresh air and 20 exhaust fans that help create an equilibrium to maintain a steady temperature of 62 degrees Fahrenheit and required downdraft.
The three paint booths are each divided into eight zones.
In the “Observation Zone,” the team optimized the downdraft airflow from the air houses by reducing the rate of fresh air in that zone while maintaining the required airflow and temperature in the other zones.
They were able to do this without compromising the plant’s paint application quality and performance.
For these efforts, the plant is also in the process of receiving an incremental energy rebate on behalf of the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) of Ontario and Enbridge Utilities.
Stellantis and the WAP energy management team will be honoured at the AEE Regional Awards Tuesday, Oct. 19, the day prior to the opening of the 2021 AEE World Energy Conference & Expo in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Stellantis Windsor Assembly Plant Recognized for Energy Reduction

Stellantis Windsor Assembly Plant, recognized by the Association of Energy Engineers for the 2021 Canada Region Energy Project of the Year.

autosphere.ca

 

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Stellantis Announces $229 Million Investment in Kokomo, Indiana, Operations to Accelerate Electrification Plans

• • 
    
    
  • Announcement is one piece of a long-term strategy and electrification plan shared during the company’s EV Day
  • 
    
  • Investment will retool three Kokomo plants to produce electrified, next-generation, eight-speed transmissions; 662 jobs retained
  • 
    
  • “Multi-tool” of transmissions can be paired with internal combustion, mild hybrid or plug-in hybrid propulsion systems
  • 
    
  • New transmission will deliver improved fuel economy, provide pure-electric range and help vehicles meet future emission regulations
  • 
    
  • Electrified transmission diversifies product portfolio of Kokomo-area plants
  • 
    
  • Leverages core competencies and skill sets of local workforce

October 7, 2021 , KOKOMO, Indiana - Stellantis today announced it would invest a total of $229 million in three of its Kokomo, Indiana, plants to help the company reach its goal of achieving 40% low-emission vehicle sales in the U.S. by 2030. This announcement, which will retain 662 jobs, comes three months after the company laid out its long-term electrification strategy, where it committed to investing $35 billion through 2025 in electrification and software.

Stellantis Head of Powertrain Operations Brad Clark made the announcement during an event at the Kokomo Transmission Plant attended by Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb, Kokomo Mayor Tyler Moore and UAW Region 2B Director Wayne Blanchard, along with other elected officials and community leaders.

The investment will support retooling of the Kokomo Transmission (KTP), Kokomo Casting and Indiana Transmission plants to produce the fourth-generation eight-speed transmission. This new transmission will have the flexibility to be paired with internal combustion engines, as well as mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid propulsion systems, for vehicles across the Jeep®, Ram, Chrysler and Dodge brands. It will deliver improved fuel economy, provide pure-electric range and help vehicles meet future emission regulations.

“This investment and this transmission represent an important stepping stone in getting us to 2030 and further expanding our battery electric offerings,” said Clark. “This new eight-speed is the ‘multi-tool’ of transmissions. It is a versatile transmission that can be adapted for a variety of applications, allowing us the flexibility to adjust our production as consumer demand for electrified vehicles grows over the next decade. It also offers consumers the opportunity to get familiar with this technology and explore all of the benefits that can come from electrification.”

The new, fourth-generation, eight-speed transmission will capitalize on a number of common parts within the different versions – transmission gear train/clutch, mechatronics, mechanical pump and E-pump motor. It also will have the flexibility for unique parts to adapt to the various electrification options. These parts include the eMotor, torque converter and power electronics.

Adding electrified transmission assembly also diversifies the product portfolio of the Kokomo operations. In March 2020, Stellantis announced it would invest $400 million to convert Indiana Transmission Plant II to the Kokomo Engine Plant to produce the GMET4 engine, the company’s 2.0-liter Global Medium Engine inline four-cylinder turbo. Production is expected to launch later this year.

This investment also leverages the core manufacturing competencies of the Kokomo operations and the local workforce in the areas of casting, machining and assembly, all of which will be needed as the market transitions to an electrified future.

“As our industry continues to change, our focus must continue to be on our most valuable asset – our people,” said Clark. “This transmission program will bring new opportunities for our current workforce, as well as the manufacturing workforce of the future.”

The second-generation eight-speed transmission has been a workhorse of the company’s powertrains since production began in 2012. KTP celebrated the 5 millionth eight-speed transmission built on Sept. 30. It is the current transmission option on the Jeep Wrangler, Gladiator and Grand Cherokee; Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer; Ram 1500; Dodge Charger, Challenger, Durango; and Chrysler 300 models.

Stellantis
Stellantis (NYSE: STLA) is one of the world’s leading automakers and a mobility provider, guided by a clear vision to offer freedom of movement with distinctive, affordable and reliable mobility solutions. In addition to the Group’s rich heritage and broad geographic presence, its greatest strengths lie in its sustainable performance, depth of experience and the wide-ranging talents of employees working around the globe. Stellantis will leverage its broad and iconic brand portfolio, which was founded by visionaries who infused the brands with passion and a competitive spirit that speaks to employees and customers alike. Stellantis aspires to become the greatest, not the biggest, while creating added value for all stakeholders, as well as the communities in which it operates.

 

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UAW fight organizes Stellantis supplier in Marysville, adds 350 members immediately

10/09/2021

A labor fight in Marysville that included a one-week strike at a multi-billion dollar global supplier to Stellantis ended with an agreement Friday to recognize UAW representation.

What was once a union shop under Auburn Hills-based Fiat Chrysler Automobiles partnership will continue to be a union shop as now-Stellantis transitions out of the operation, turning it over completely to ZF control.

Behind the scenes, the situation is a little complicated.

ZF Marysville has been staffed by UAW Stellantis workers under a UAW contract. During the 2019 contract negotiations, Stellantis agreed to transfer ZF Marysville workers to other Stellantis locations and have ZF staff the plant with ZF employees, the UAW explained in its news release.

That transition has not been completed. The 350 workers immediately impacted by the UAW deal are ZF employees exclusively. Hundreds of UAW Stellantis employees at ZF now will be transferring to other Stellantis locations.

The German car parts maker and its ZF employees, who often refer to ZF Marysville as the Marysville Axle Plant, dealt with a strike for one week that began Sept. 9 and then evolved into negotiations.

340 workers impacted
A majority of the workers signed up to join the union, but ZF did not accept the voluntary majority of 340 ZF employees who asked to join the union, the UAW said in a news release on Saturday.

“These hardworking ZF Marysville workers simply want what other employees at that plant have had,” James Harris, Region 1 UAW Director, said in the release. “ZF Marysville workers made it clear that they wanted the same voice at the table to bargain for their wages and benefits. They stood up to form their union and ultimately succeeded.”

Harris said that following the strike for recognition, ZF workers returned to work and the company subsequently agreed to the voluntary recognition process, which resulted in a majority of ZF workers opting to form a union.

“We are grateful to the community and families that supported ZF Marysville workers through this strike,” Frank Stuglin, UAW secretary-treasurer and director of the UAW Competitive Shop/Independents, Parts and Suppliers Department, said in the news release. “Ultimately, the ZF workers' sacrifice will benefit UAW members and families at ZF Marysville and the Marysville community for decades to come.”

$6 billion contract win
In July, ZF announced a nearly $6 billion axle contract for the Marysville facility, which would supply beam axles and axle drives for pickup trucks until 2027. It did not specify which pickup truck models.

While ZF supplies parts to various automakers, the supplier is a key resource for Stellantis.

“This contract signifies a bright future for our plant, employees and community,” Wolfgang Moenig, vice president, product line axle drives North America, ZF Group, said in a news release in July. “We are committed to growing and developing business and products over time ... delivering high-quality systems to the driving public.”

Larry Miner, plant manager in Marysville, said at the time, "Our dedicated team has worked tirelessly to secure a strong future for this facility and its employees."

The plant at 2900 Busha Highway in Marysville primarily produces axle drive components for major North American automotive manufacturers. ZF had $33.4 billion in global sales in 2020.

Crossing the picket line
In September, the UAW sent a news release saying ZF employees at the plant wanted to join the UAW but as current UAW Stellantis members were moving to other locations.

The strike was complicated by the fact that the current labor contract included a no-strike clause that required UAW members to cross the picket line of fellow workers fighting for their right to bargain.

The UAW said a majority of the ZF workers signed up to the union and ZF refused to accept voluntary recognition.

"It is unconscionable that the company would choose to put workers through delay tactics and efforts to avoid the union when a majority of their employees have agreed to it," James Harris, UAW Region 1 director, said in a statement. "ZF must cease these union-busting tactics and honor their workforces' wishes by recognizing the employees right to bargain at this site which has been a union shop."

ZF has consistently denied this portrayal of events.

"As we have over the past several months, ZF will continue to engage in discussions with the UAW on a fair process that allows employees to decide whether they wish to have the UAW represent them," the company said in a statement at the time.



Harris, who helped coordinate this negotiation, assumed his role as regional director on August 26 -- replacing Stuglin, a welder repairman by trade.
Harris has a long association with Chrysler and Fiat Chrysler and now Stellantis. He played a key role in the battle to keep the Chrysler Sterling Heights Assembly Plant open in 2009 after bankruptcy.

His latest effort at ZF will net measurable results for the UAW. This latest addition of 350 ZF members is actually a minimum growth as Stellantis employees relocate and new ZF employees get hired.

UAW fight organizes Stellantis supplier in Marysville, adds 350 members immediately

UAW prevails at ZF Marysville with latest organizing effort at global automotive supplier.

www.freep.com

 

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Stellantis Minivan Plant In Canada Hit With 'Intentional' Explosion
No injuries were reported.

Nov 05, 2021

By: Anthony Alaniz





An explosion that happened at Stellantis' Windsor Assembly on Thursday is being investigated as an "intentional act" by the Windsor Police Service, according to a news update from the department published today. Police responded to a report of an explosion at the factory at 5:45 pm, securing the area. The plant had been evacuated before police had arrived, and there were no injuries reported.


According to police, a suspicious package that had detonated was found in the vicinity of the explosion. Police discovered it on the second floor on the west side of the plant in an area that acts as a storage facility. It's not "generally used for general work." It's unclear how much damage was done, though police did report that there was no active fire as a result of the explosion when they arrived.

Stellantis Minivan Plant In Canada Hit With 'Intentional' Explosion

Police are investigating an explosion at the Stellantis Windsor Assembly Plant that happened Thursday as an intentional act.

www.motor1.com

 

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Stellantis, citing chip shortage, plans layoffs for 400 workers at Jeep Cherokee plant

11/05/2021

Stellantis, citing the global semiconductor chip shortage, is planning to lay off 400 workers at its Jeep Cherokee SUV plant in Belvidere, Illinois.

The automaker, which also owns the Ram, Chrysler and Dodge brands, said it notified the affected hourly workers, the UAW and government officials on Wednesday, as required by law.

The layoffs will happen as early as Jan. 14, the company said in a statement provided by spokeswoman Jodi Tinson.

"As we continue to balance global sales with production of the Jeep Cherokee produced at the Belvidere (III.) Assembly Plant, which has been further exacerbated by the unprecedented global microchip shortage, Stellantis has determined that additional staffing actions are needed as a result of changes in the plant’s operations," according to the statement. "The company will make every effort to place laid off hourly employees in open full-time positions as they become available based on seniority."

Workers on layoff get approximately 77% of their pay, which varies depending on individual circumstances, because of contract and unemployment benefits, according to the UAW.



LINK

 

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Stellantis cites chip shortage in layoff of 200 at Indiana plant

11/15/2021

The maker of Jeep SUVs and Chrysler minivans is eliminating a 200-person crew at its Tipton Transmission Plant in Indiana, citing decreased production due to the global microchip shortage.

Although the elimination of one crew is "permanent" at the plant employing 863 hourly employees, Stellantis NV is calling the layoff "voluntary and temporary" for production personnel as it expects most of the affected workers will be able to transfer to other plants, including the repurposed Kokomo Engine Plant. Following a $400 million investment, the former Indiana Transmission Plant II is scheduled to open by the end of the year about 23 miles away from Tipton with 200 new jobs.

The layoffs in Tipton come after Stellantis announced last week about 400 job cuts set to happen in January at the Jeep Cherokee plant in Belvidere, Illinois. It also is eliminating a 1,800-person second shift in April at the Chrysler minivan plant in Windsor, Ontario, because of the scarcity of semiconductors used in vehicle electronics like infotainment, heated seats and assisted driving functions.

"Tipton Transmission has reduced one crew of assembly due to lower volumes impacted by downtime and other production actions taken as a result of the global microchip shortage," spokeswoman Jodi Tinson said in a statement.


LINK

 

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Windsor man charged in explosion at Chrysler minivan plant


A 33-year-old man from Windsor, Ontario, was charged on Wednesday in relation to an explosion earlier this month at the Chrysler minivan plant there.

James Harris was arrested Wednesday morning in East Windsor without incident. He has been charged with explosion/disregard for human life, intention to cause explosion likely to cause serious bodily harm or death and intention to cause explosion likely to cause serious damage to property, according to a news release from the Windsor Police Service.

Investigators received a search warrant for a home in the mostly residential 1700 block of Drouillard Road. Members of the Emergency Services Unit located and arrested Harris about 8:30 a.m. The investigation still continues, though no further information was available beyond the news release, Constable Darius Goze said.

No injuries were reported after the Nov. 4 blast at the assembly plant that happened at 5:45 p.m. and briefly paused production that evening. A detonated device was found in a vacant second-floor storage area on the west side of the plant.


"We want to thank the Windsor Police Department and the entire task force for their swift response in investigating this incident and helping to ensure the safety of our workforce," Stellantis spokeswoman LouAnn Gosselin said in a statement. "We remain grateful that no one was harmed as a result of this deliberate action."

The explosion happened amid disagreement between the automaker and Canadian autoworkers union Unifor. The union is objecting to Stellantis' plans to enforce a requirement that all workers at its Canadian facilities get the COVID-19 vaccine or face consequences, including termination of employment.

Windsor employs 4,213 hourly and 185 salaried workers on two shifts, but Stellantis last month informed employees it would cut the second shift and about 1,800 jobs in April as a result of the ongoing global microchip shortage; a third shift and 1,500 jobs were dropped last year.

The automaker, however, says it will uphold its commitments in its 2019 contract with Unifor, which include a $1.13 billion investment into Windsor by 2024 for a new platform supporting plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles. With that investment, Unifor says the plant will return to three shifts.

The Major Crime Unit continues to investigate the blast and is seeking information that may assist. Investigators can be reached at at 519-255-6700 ext. 4830 or ext. 4000 after hours. Anonymous tips may be sent to Crime Stoppers at 519-258-8477 or online at www.catchcrooks.com.

LINK

 

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Stellantis to require COVID-19 vaccines for salaried workers

11/19/2021

Stellantis, owner of the Jeep, Ram, Chrysler and Dodge brands, will require its salaried workers in the United States to be fully vaccinated by early next year.

The automaker, which will join Ford in requiring the shots for U.S. salaried workers, announced Friday that the workers would need to have their final dose by Jan. 5. In general, individuals are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second shot of Pfizer or Moderna or the one-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

General Motors, which said it supports COVID-19 vaccination, remained the lone member of the Detroit Three as of Friday to not have announced a mandate for its salaried workers.

No vaccine requirement has been announced for UAW-represented Stellantis workers. Stellantis spokeswoman Jodi Tinson, in response to a question, said the company continues "to work with the UAW on this" and that any updates would be shared when appropriate.

 

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Ontario Chrysler factory pushes vaccination deadline to December 31

Workers in Windsor to face disciplinary action if they do not disclose their vaccination status by December 1


Author of the article:
Dave Waddell, Windsor Star, Driving

Publishing date:
Nov 26, 2021 • 11 minutes ago • 3 minute read •
Join the conversation

The Stellantis Windsor Assembly Plant is shown on Thursday, November 4, 2021. Photo by Dan Janisse /Windsor Star

Stellantis will begin disciplining workers at its Chrysler factory in Windsor, Ontario who have not reported their vaccination status December 1, but has agreed to delay implementation of its full vaccination mandate by another two weeks.

“Our Stellantis vaccine policy in Canada remains unchanged,” said Stellantis’s Head of Communications-Canada Lou Ann Gosselin. “However, to accommodate the review of requests for exemption on a case-by-case basis, we have extended the end date to December 31.”


Gosselin said the company wasn’t commenting on what form any disciplinary action would take after the passing of the December 1 or December 31 deadlines.


The Ford Motor Company, which employs close to 1,700 workers in its two Windsor engine plants; and General Motors have similar vaccination mandates for their Canadian operations.

LINK

 

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Belvidere Assembly Plant to shut down again, starting December 6th

Nov 30, 2021

Automaker Stellantis has decided to idle the FCA Belvidere Assembly Plant again, from December 6th to 11th, citing the "unprecedented global microchip shortage."

 

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WHC presents 2021 Ibis Award to the Stellantis Windsor Assembly Plant


December 6, 2021 , SILVER SPRING, MD - Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) has announced the winner of the 2021 Ibis Award — the Stellantis Windsor (Ont.) Assembly Plant. The Ibis Award recognizes a WHC-Certified program that has demonstrated resilience of spirit and advancement of conservation despite lockdowns, quarantines and additional government-mandated regulations.

Since 2009, the plant has hosted educational events, such as tree plantings, for Windsor residents. The work performed by community members at these events has been a critical part of the company’s efforts to address the lack of urban tree canopy in the Windsor area. Participants, most of whom have been students, have helped plant 1,500 trees across the property.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, local regulations prevented Windsor Assembly Plant employees from organizing large-scale community events. Despite these barriers, the team remained committed to providing high-quality environmental education experiences for colleagues and Windsor residents.

“We are very proud and thankful to receive the Ibis award from the Wildlife Habitat Council in recognition of our efforts to help promote a positive and sustainable environmental footprint within Windsor and Essex County,” said Jon Desjardins, Windsor Assembly Plant Manager. “Faced with unprecedented challenges brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic this past year, our employees and the Unifor Local 444 Joint Workplace Committee demonstrated commendable resiliency in overcoming those obstacles and carrying out the hallmark initiatives of the conservation program for our colleagues and local youth in the community. We are grateful for their efforts in making our world and our environment a better place.”

The Windsor team opted to pivot from large-scale events to planning activities that participants of all ages could complete in an independent, socially distanced manner. The activities provided opportunities for creativity and outdoor exploration during a challenging time. Educational offerings included:

• Coping with Covid artwork: participants created and submitted environmentally themed art.
• Tree identification: participants explored the plant’s grounds and took note of various native tree species.
• Virtual geocaching: instead of finding a hidden box on-site, participants were provided with a link where they could upload pictures of themselves taking pro-environmental actions.
• Photography contest, Native or Invasive: participants photographed plants, birds, fish and animals, and determined if they were native to the Windsor area.
• Treasure hunt with a twist: using a map and written, pirate-themed clues, participants navigated to an on-site pollinator habitat and planted additional milkweed seeds.

Participants would send proof of participation to the activity organizers, who received as many as 125 submissions per activity, a figure comparable to the 130-person turnout for the team’s pre-pandemic planting events. While the organizers received submissions from everyone from preschoolers to site employees, most of the participants were secondary school students. The teens could use the activities to fulfill community service hours required for graduation, during a time when pandemic-related closures made finding volunteer work difficult. Extra credit was given to students who participated in habitat enhancement work, such as planting native wildflowers or trees, and submitted proof to the organizers.

Speaking to the Stellantis team’s resiliency, WHC President Margaret O’Gorman said, “By exercising flexibility and remaining sensitive to local needs, the Windsor team has not only been able to maintain their conservation program but has also grown its decades-long relationship with the greater Windsor community.”

In addition to the Ibis Award, the team’s efforts have been commended by Stellantis’ corporate offices, the Windsor municipal government and a local museum. Given this praise, and the overwhelmingly positive comments from participants and their parents, the Windsor team intends to continue offering self-directed educational activities, even when organized events become possible again.

About Wildlife Habitat Council
Wildlife Habitat Council partners with corporations, fellow conservation organizations, government agencies and community members to empower and recognize wildlife habitat and conservation education programs. Our members are environmental leaders at local, national and global levels, voluntarily managing their lands to support sustainable ecosystems and the communities that surround them. Since 1988, WHC has certified more than 1,000 habitat and education programs worldwide; WHC Conservation Certification programs can be found in 47 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, and 25 countries. To learn more, visit http://www.wildlifehc.org or follow @WildlifeHC on Twitter.

 

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Some Stellantis plants to run during holiday break, others idle in Jan.

12/22/2021

Demand for some of Stellantis NV's vehicles will have plants in Michigan, Ohio and Mexico running for a few days during the typical holiday break next week, while a lack of demand for other vehicles will leave some plants idling for much of January.

A pandemic-induced global microchip shortage this year has helped production of all kinds of vehicles, resulting in depleted dealership inventories and clarity on plants with prioritized product versus possibly vulnerable plants with less popular and profitable vehicles.

To make up for some of the lost production during the holiday break that begins on Friday, running on Monday and Tuesday will be the Mack Assembly Plant in Detroit, home of the three-row and now two-row Jeep Grand Cherokee; Sterling Heights Assembly Plant, which makes the Ram pickup trucks; and Toledo Assembly Complex in Ohio, which churns out the Jeep Wrangler SUV and Gladiator truck.

In addition to those days, Toluca Assembly Plant in Mexico will run on Dec. 29 to produce the Jeep Compass. Warren Truck Assembly Plant, where it builds the Ram Classic pickups and the Wagoneer SUVs, will run on Monday alone.

Engine, transmission, component and stamping plants will run operating schedules to support production at these locations as needed.After the new year, several plants will be down "to align production with global sales," spokeswoman Jodi Tinson said in a statement.

The Jeep Cherokee plant in Belvidere, Illinois, which saw a couple rounds of layoffs and a shift cut this year, will be down through Jan. 14. Windsor Assembly Plant in Ontario, which builds the Chrysler minivans and is slated to have its second shift cut in the spring, adds another week through Jan. 21. The other plant in Ontario, Brampton Assembly Plant, where the Dodge muscle cars and the Chrysler 300 are built, will be down through Jan. 26. Toluca also will be down Jan. 3-21.

Saltillo Van Assembly Plant in Mexico will be down from Jan. 3 to Feb. 10 for retooling.

Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares earlier this month said visibility into the shortage of semiconductors continues to remain a challenge for the industry, which expects the scarcity to continue for months still.

"What I can tell you is my order book is going to do," Tavares said during a media roundtable in Detroit. "People want to buy cars. It's amazing. It is as if we have all discovered through the COVID crisis how important it is to protect our freedom of mobility, and therefore, what's the best way to protect my freedom of mobility? It is to have my car."

Some Stellantis plants to run during holiday break, others idle in Jan.

Plants in Detroit, Sterling Heights, Warren and elsewhere will be running extra days.

www.detroitnews.com

 

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New year, another shutdown at Belvidere Assembly Plant

Ken DeCoster, Rockford Register Star
Wed, December 29, 2021

This undated photo shows the Belvidere Assembly plant in Belvidere.

BELVIDERE — Production of Jeep Cherokees is on hold once again as employees at the Belvidere Assembly Plant ring in the new year on yet another layoff.

All production operations at the plant will be shut down for two weeks beginning Monday, Jan. 3 "to align production with global sales," Stellantis spokesperson Jodi Tinson said.
The Jeep Cherokee’s U.S. sales plummeted 72% in the third quarter of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020.

Production in Belvidere and at other assembly plants nationwide has been halted numerous times over the last two years due to an ongoing global semiconductor chip shortage.

Semiconductors are being used in more vehicles than ever before as the auto industry rolls out new vehicles with electronic features such as Bluetooth connectivity and driver assist, navigation and hybrid electric systems.

Transportation: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker: State set to join 'clean transportation revolution'
Stellantis is a multinational automotive manufacturing corporation formed in 2021 on the basis of a merger between the Italian-American conglomerate Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and the French PSA Group.
The company operates one shift at its Belvidere plant, with 2,558 workers, including 2,362 hourly and 196 salaried.

In November, Stellantis announced plans to lay off 400 workers at its Belvidere plant. The layoffs are expected to take effect in January.

The Belvidere City Council sent a resolution to Gov JB Pritzker’s office in September supporting efforts to incentivize investment for the production of electric vehicles in the state, including at the Belvidere plant, Mayor Clint Morris said.

“Essentially, it encouraged the governor to help with any funding regarding incentivizing what seems to be the government going with a green initiative,” Morris said. “Certainly, if anybody would deserve to have some of those incentives, it would be the plant that’s located here in Belvidere.”

The Illinois General Assembly approved what is known as the Reimagining Electric Vehicles Act which provides tax credits for companies that manufacture electric vehicles, parts and batteries in Illinois.
The legislation, which was sponsored by Illinois state Rep. Dave Vella and state Sen. Steve Stadelman, was signed into law in November by Gov Pritzker.

It is hoped that the incentives will convince Stellantis to retool to build electric vehicles in Belvidere.
"As we've said before, we are not commenting on rumor or speculation regarding future product at Belvidere and therefore, there is no timeline for any announcement," Tinson said.
However, Stellantis is in the process of determining sites for manufacturing electric vehicles and intends to invest $35.5 billion in the industry.

Morris anticipates Stellantis making a decision on future production in Belvidere in the first quarter of 2022.
More: Masks required as Belvidere Assembly Plant employees return to work Monday

“I believe they want to see what kind of benefits they can get before they decide to make an investment in electric vehicles here and I don’t know if they may do a hybrid in the future or if they’ll stay with a combustion engine,” Morris said. “I really do believe that it’s a matter of economics. They have shareholders that expect them to meet certain financial expectations but I also believe that they have a plant out here that’s viable and I think we can help them meet those expectations.”

 

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Will the cars of tomorrow be built in Brampton? Workers at Chrysler plant left in the dark about their future


Thu., December 30, 2021,

“It would be nice to know what our future holds,” Lee Healey, an employee at Brampton’s Fiat/Chrysler plant for the last 26 years, tells The Pointer. “There are young families that both husband and wife work in the plant and people are worried what their future holds. What plans they can make. What purchases they should or shouldn't make.”

A Canadian consensus has finally formed over the future of the automobile: it’s time to go electric. With the rising popularity of trendy electric vehicles (EVs) like Tesla’s Model 3, other automakers are taking notice of consumer interests, with some of the world’s largest manufacturers committing to go completely green within the next decade or so.

The energy and economic revolution will have wide-ranging implications for jobs across the country.
Thousands of autoworkers in Brampton, like Healey, are waiting to find out what this means for their future.
Doug Ford spent the early days of his premiership repeating the rhetoric of his late brother, former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford. He alluded to a war on the traditional car, tearing out electric charging ports at GO transit stations and cancelling a rebate on electric vehicles that made them more affordable, leading to the sales of these green vehicles plummeting.

“It only benefitted millionaires who could afford Teslas,” Ford argued at the time.

Now, the Ontario government has acknowledged the economic opportunity of going electric and the consequences of being left behind. Ottawa has decreed that only electric vehicles will be sold in Canada by 2035 to help the country reach its climate goals of being net-zero by 2050. United States President Joe Biden has set a target for half the country’s car sales to be electric by 2030.

 

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Stellantis Submits Odor Mitigation Plan for Mack Plant to EGLE

• Action plan part of report detailing comprehensive odor testing and modeling exercises conducted in response to community concerns
• Analyzed 152 odor samples taken from 42 potential sources to identify odor mitigation actions to be taken at facility
• Work to complete identified corrective measures already in progress
• Air quality data from 2021 show odors present no health risk to area residents

January 7, 2022 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - Following a thorough and comprehensive investigation, analysis and modeling of potential odors emanating from the Detroit Assembly Complex - Mack plant, Stellantis today submitted a detailed report on its findings and an action plan for odor mitigation to the Air Quality Division (AQD) of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). The investigation was initiated in response to concerns raised in the community beginning in August.

Stellantis retained the services of an environmental engineering company with odor investigation expertise to conduct source sampling. Over a period of 13 days in October and November, 152 odor samples were collected from 42 different potential sources in and around the facility for analysis.

Using those results, a second third-party specialty engineering firm completed dispersion modeling, used to predict the potential odor impact from specific sources at the facility, and evaluated the effectiveness of proposed mitigation strategies.

The modeling results identified a number of corrective actions that, once implemented, will ensure that odors do not reach the neighboring community. The odor mitigation plan includes implementation of the following initiatives in specific areas of the paint shop:

• Routing ducting to the existing emissions control system as required in the air permit was completed on Dec. 19, ahead of schedule. Odors generated from the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the exhaust will now be reduced by thermal oxidation in the emission control system
• Installing a completely new and dedicated regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO) and ducting. The exhaust from two existing stacks will be routed to this new system to destroy odor contributing compounds
• Routing the clean air exhaust from the existing concentrator to the stack of the new RTO to improve dispersion through increased velocity and height. The concentrator removes VOCs and “concentrates” them into smaller volumes so the RTO can destroy them more efficiently
• Using odor reducing technologies as needed in specific areas that have been identified as minor odor contributing sources

Stellantis is proceeding with the engineering and procurement necessary to complete these corrective actions, including specification of long-lead items like the RTO. A timeline for completion of these activities will depend, in part, on the outcome of discussions with EGLE regarding permitting requirements and deadlines imposed through the enforcement process.

As the company works to address odor concerns, air quality monitoring is ongoing; however, sampling performed by both Stellantis and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2021 shows that the odors reaching the community do not present a health risk to area residents.

 

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Windsor Assembly being considered for new Stellantis electric vehicle

Author of the article:
Dave Waddell

Publishing date:
Jan 07, 2022 • 17 minutes ago • 4 minute read •
Join the conversation

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 05: Chris Feuell, CEO of Chrysler brand of Stellantis, introduces the all-electric Chrysler Airflow Concept vehicle during a Stellantis press event at CES 2022 at the Las Vegas Convention Center on Jan. 5, 2022 in Las Vegas. Photo by Alex Wong /Getty Images

Stellantis’s Chrysler brand revealed its road map for the future with this week’s reveal of the fully electric Airflow concept crossover, and that road may just end up running through Windsor.

“(Chrysler CEO Chris) Feuell is excited by the opportunity, and she’s under pressure to get the brand back on its feet again,” said Michigan-based auto analyst and Autoline host John McElroy, who interviewed Feuell after the Airflow reveal at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Wednesday.

“The production site of the Airflow is still being intensely studied. She said Windsor is definitely on the list of plants being considered.”


McElroy, an Emmy award winner for his coverage of the auto industry, said the company cautioned that what was revealed Wednesday isn’t going to be the final product.


“They’ve actually had this concept in the fridge for about one and a half years,” McElroy said. “It got delayed by the merger of PSA, Fiat and FCA.

“It might have been more cutting edge one and a half years ago, but now they want to update it. Their design chief Ralph Gilles told me they’re chomping at the bit to get at this. They’re going to take it way beyond what it looks like now.


“You’re going to see a more sleek, aero-dynamic and modern look. You might see some of Chrysler’s new design direction appear in the Pacifica minivan.”


Unifor Local 444 president Dave Cassidy said he would love to see the sculpted crossover land at the Windsor Assembly Plant to complement Pacifica production.


“As soon as I saw the Airflow come out just a bit before Christmas, I immediately sent a message to (FCA-North America’s chief operating officer Mark Stewart) that said, ‘Yes, please,’” Cassidy said. “I hope the price point is good with it.

“It’s a sleek-looking vehicle. I think consumers will really like it.”


McElroy said Windsor Assembly presents a strong business case for landing the Airflow or any other electric vehicle.


It’s one of the few Stellantis plants in North America that is already producing electric vehicles in the form of the Pacific hybrid.


“That plant and workforce already have experience in electric motors, electric batteries and how to handle the batteries and install them,” McElroy said. “Those batteries are very tricky to deal with.


“When you want to roll one of these BEVs off the line every 60 seconds, you need a workforce that knows how to deal with it, the logistics in place and the supply chain. All of that’s already there in Windsor.”


Article content

The interior of the Chrysler Airflow Concept electric vehicle is shown during CES 2022 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Jan. 5, 2022. Photo by STEVE MARCUS /REUTERS
Cassidy said Stellantis was close to announcing new product for Windsor before Christmas, but held back to see how U.S. President Joe Biden’s now-stalled Buy American legislation would fair in the U.S. Senate. Provisions of the bill give preferential treatment, through consumer rebates, to American-built electric vehicles made in unionized plants.


McElroy downplayed fears over Biden’s Buy American bill saying it has little chance of passing the Senate.


“There are 10 foreign automakers in 10 different states and there’s no way Democrats in those states will vote for something that’s an enhancement for the United Autoworkers and put their own residents at a disadvantage,” McElroy said.


Cassidy agreed that he senses Stellantis is more comfortable now the current bill seems to have been shelved.


“I think we’ll hear something (about new product) in early 2022,” said Cassidy, who was to speak with FCA-North America’s head of manufacturing Michael Resha Friday.


“I’m pushing them to move things up and Stellantis is trying. Windsor needs some good news.”


Another advantage both Stellantis’s Windsor and Brampton plants have in getting a piece of the electrification action is capacity, said McElroy.


According to Canadian and U.S. sales results released this week by Stellantis, Windsor Assembly produced 105,549 minivans in 2021.


“It makes it a good fit for our plant,” Cassidy said. “At one time, when we had three shifts, we were producing over 400,000 vehicles annually.”


McElroy added Stellantis is going to need that capacity to execute its electrification plans.

“Prior to COVID-19, Stellantis didn’t have any excess capacity in North America,” McElroy said.


“Once the microchip shortage and COVID-19 pass and things return to normal production levels, it’s my opinion that Stellantis will need the capacity in its Ontario plants. Products might get shifted between plants, but I personally don’t fear for the future of those plants.”


He also expects the introduction of several new models to bolster Chrysler’s offerings and pump up production volumes.


“You can’t survive with only two models in the showroom,” McElroy said. “They’ll need at least five models in the showroom for the brand to grow and flourish.”


McElroy added Feuell also revealed an unexpected long-term goal for Chrysler.


“She wants Chrysler to go global once they get their house in order in North America,” McElroy said. “They’ve got an aggressive plan for the future of the brand.

Windsor Assembly being considered for new Stellantis electric vehicle
“If you’re putting the Airflow in Windsor, one way to generate more volume is to sell it around world. That’s an exciting prospect.”


Under the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, ratified in 2017, EU tariffs on all Canadian-produced vehicles will be phased out over seven years. Currently, the European Union has no similar agreement with the U.S.

Windsor Assembly being considered for new Stellantis electric vehicle

Stellantis has committed to spending up to $1.5-billion on the Windsor Assembly Plant for retooling to produce new electric models.

windsorstar.com

 

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Stellantis suspends vaccine mandate for U.S. salaried employees

01/28/2022

Stellantis NV on Thursday said it's suspending its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for non-union salaried workers in the United States.

The decision is "due to the tremendous support and response we have received to the vaccine requirement," pokeswoman Jodi Tinson said in a statement. More than 97% of the affected 14,000 employees had gotten the vaccine or a medical or religious exemption. A mandate remains in effect for employees in Canada.

The maker of Jeep SUVs and Ram pickup trucks is the latest corporation to end a vaccine mandate after the U.S. Supreme Court blocked a federal emergency temporary standard from the U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration from taking effect. It would've required employers with 100 or more workers starting next month to ensure their employees are vaccinated or tested weekly. OSHA pulled the rule for businesses effective Wednesday.

"Protecting the health and safety of all Stellantis employees has been guiding the implementation of policies and protocols related to COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic," Tinson said.

"We continue to encourage all employees to get vaccinated and, when eligible, boosted as the most effective way to prevent serious COVID-19 illness. We will continue to monitor the situation and the guidance of public health authorities to make any modifications necessary to ensure we are doing everything we can to protect our workforce."

When Stellantis announced on Nov. 19 that it was requiring the COVID-19 shot, about 80% of affected workers were vaccinated.

Health and safety requirements for employees represented by the United Auto Workers are subject to negotiations. Vaccines have been encouraged, but not mandated, for those workers. Earlier this month, Stellantis said more than 50% of its employees have self-certified their vaccination status.

Ford Motor Co. also instituted a vaccine mandate for most of its salaried workforce. The deadline for that was Jan. 4. General Motors Co. has said it supports the COVID-19 vaccine but has not mandated that its employees get the jab.

Stellantis joins other major companies like Starbucks Corp. and General Electric Co. that have rolled back vaccine and testing requirements for their employees since the Supreme Court's decision.

Stellantis suspends vaccine mandate for U.S. salaried employees

More than 97% of the affected 14,000 employees had gotten the vaccine or a medical or religious exemption.

www.detroitnews.com