A Trenton South Engine Plant employee installs the lower intake manifold on the Pentastar V-6 engine.
Workforce will be cut
By ZEINAB NAJM
Sunday Times Newspapers
TRENTON — Stellantis recently announced it will invest $24.7 million into its two facilities that comprise its Trenton Engine Complex.
The resulting consolidation will result in workforce reductions, but Stellantis did not say how many workers would be affected.
Included is a new engine program for the south plant, which is capable of producing the two variations of the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine.
After the completion of the retooling, the Pentastar production line at the north plant will be decommissioned by the end of the year. Stellantis expects to repurpose the north plant for warehousing and other non-manufacturing opportunities.
The 3.6-liter engine production will then be consolidated at the south facility.
With that, production of the Pentastar upgrade in the south plant is expected to begin by the end of the first quarter of 2023.
“First launched in 2011, the Pentastar engine quickly became the workhorse of the Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram product lines, streamlining the company’s V-6 engine offerings from seven to one,” the press release announced. “Upgraded in 2016, the redesigned V-6 delivers improved fuel economy and performance over the original version of the same engine, which will continue to be produced through 2023.”
Stellantis, which merged Fiat Chrysler and PSA Group in 2020, is one the world’s leading automakers and a mobility provider.
U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-12th District) said auto workers at the engine plant have been worried about what the future held for them, and the announcement provides clarity.
“While it is disappointing to see the north plant repurposed, the new investments and new engine line for the south plant is positive news,” she said. “It’s my understanding employees impacted by this announcement will have the opportunity to move to other jobs within Stellantis. This is the right thing to do and we need to all work together to ensure Stellantis’ presence in Michigan stays strong as we make the critical transition to electrification and advanced mobility.”
Dingell said Michigan autoworkers are the best in the nation.
“We must all work together – elected officials, labor, and the auto industry – to keep workers in our state and to ensure Michigan and this country remains at the forefront of innovation and manufacturing to compete on the world stage,” she said. “Stellantis is a strong partner in this effort, and I look forward to working with them to expand their operations in our state.”
Mayor Steven Rzeppa did not return a request for a statement by press time.
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at zeinabnajm92@gmail.com.)