16:01 26-11-2025

Stellantis restarts Belvidere plant: Jeep Compass in 2027, Cherokee next

Stellantis has confirmed plans to restart its Belvidere, Illinois plant, which has been idle since February 2023. Production of the new Jeep Compass for the North American market will begin there in 2027, with the next-generation Jeep Cherokee joining the program a year later. More than $600 million will be invested to modernize the facility and bring back jobs.

At peak output, building the Compass and Cherokee will involve about 3,300 employees, combining returning and newly hired staff. According to Mopar Insiders, the first Compass models will launch with a gasoline engine, a manual transmission, and all-wheel drive—an approach that contrasts with Europe’s hybrid-led strategy. Electrified versions are set to follow once demand stabilizes. It comes across as a measured, step-by-step rollout that keeps production straightforward while the market for electrified trims settles.