Stellantis in Auburn Hills announced that the next-generation Jeep Cherokee will become the first U.S. vehicle assembled on the new STLA One platform.
STLA One, a cornerstone of Stellantis’ FaSTLAne 2030 strategy announced in May, is a flexible, modular design intended to enhance product competitiveness, improve manufacturing efficiency, and simplify vehicle development across more than 30 models globally by 2035.
By reducing architecture complexity, increasing manufacturing efficiency and leveraging greater scale, the platform will help deliver more competitive products while lowering engineering and production costs.
The next-generation Jeep Cherokee will be assembled at the Belvidere Assembly Plant, located about 60 miles west of Chicago. The plant, which will play a central role in executing the company’s FaSTLAne 2030 strategy, is expected to assemble a minimum of two vehicles on the new architecture.
“Launching the next-generation Cherokee on STLA One allows us to deliver a more competitive product while leveraging the strength of our U.S. manufacturing operations,” says Antonio Filosa, CEO of Stellantis and its and North America COO. “Selecting the right product architecture, timing and execution path supports our growth strategy and creates the best long-term outcome and stability for our employees, customers and stakeholders.”
As part of preparations to assemble the next-generation Jeep Cherokee, Stellantis expects to increase its investment in Belvidere to more than $800 million, up from the $600 million announced in October 2025. The facility will be capable of producing all powertrain variants on two shifts.
Work to prepare the plant for production already has begun. More than $60 million has been spent through July 2026 on projects across stamping, body, paint, and general assembly focused on assessing, upgrading, and preparing infrastructure, equipment, and systems to support the plant’s restart. Additional projects are planned for the balance of the year.
Pilot production of the Belvidere-assembled next-generation Jeep Cherokee on the STLA One platform is expected to begin in the first half of 2028, with retail production targeted to launch in the second half of 2029.
During the transition, Stellantis says it remains committed to supporting Belvidere employees who have been awaiting the plant’s reopening. The company intends to:
- Continue with supplemental unemployment benefits (SUB), as well as health care.
- Increase the amount of SUB to reflect the 2023 contract wage increases.
- Address future pension credits for employees on layoff.
- Offer temporary relocation opportunities for Belvidere employees.
As part of the commitments made in the FaSTLAne 2030 strategic plan, the company says it plans to introduce 11 all-new and 12 refreshed vehicles in North America over the next four years, which will expand market coverage to 90 percent by 2030.
