Stellantis to make $406 million in electrification investments at Sterling Heights, Warren and Dundee plants

STERLING HEIGHTS (WWJ) -- Stellantis has announced nearly half-a-billion dollars worth of electrification investments in three Southeast Michigan plants: Sterling Heights, Warren and Dundee.

WWJ Auto Beat Reporter Jeff Gilbert said, in a couple of the cases, we knew these vehicles were coming, but did not know where they would be built.

Now, Stellantis has confirmed that its new electric pickup truck will be made at its Sterling Heights Assembly Plant, on Van Dyke Ave., along with the vehicles' extended range version.

“We’re adding innovations to our Michigan manufacturing footprint to support a multi-energy approach that is laser-focused on customer demand,” Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said in a statement announcing the Ram 1500 REV production in Michigan.

Gilbert said that while both of those vehicles had already been unveiled, the new new electric Jeep Wagoneer had not. This morning, he said, Stellantis confirmed that it would be retooling the Warren Truck Assembly Plant for production of a future electrified Jeep Wagoneer.

Thirdly, the automaker announced that it will be making EV components at its Dundee Engine Plant, in Monroe County, which until this point produced gasoline engines.

The Dundee plant will continue to make those gas engines as well, Gilbert clarified.

The total investment in all three plants amounts to $406 million, according to the automaker.

The question remains: Will this mean new jobs in Metro Detroit?

Gilbert said as nothing has been announced on that front, and that's still unclear as Stellantis has recently been making cuts and offering buyouts.

However, Gilbert said: "If this won't create any new jobs, it certainly will likely protect current positions."