Stellantis offers early retirement packages to workers in Windsor, Brampton, Ont.

Stellantis says it’s offering a retirement incentive program to eligible employees at its Ontario assembly plants in Windsor and Brampton as it looks to cut staff while avoiding layoffs.

The move comes just months after the automaker committed billions to the factories, a new electric-vehicle battery plant and EV r&d centre in Windsor.

The automaker didn’t say how many people it hopes will accept the offer. Nor did the company provide financial details about the packages being offered.

Stellantis said employees will learn the details on Aug. 1 and have two weeks to decide on whether to accept the offer.

Unifor Local 444 President Dave Cassidy, who represents thousands of hourly workers at the Windsor facility, wasn’t immediately available for comment.

In a statement, Stellantis said it remains “firmly committed to the future of its Canadian operations.”

Stellantis is pouring billions of dollars — a commitment of $8.6 billion so far — into Canada’s nascent electric-vehicle industry and, as of June, was halfway to its goal of hiring 650 research engineers.

On May 2, the company announced a $3.6-billion investment in the Brampton and Windsor plants, entirely devoted to electrified product and technology.

In March, Stellantis, in conjunction with LG Energy Solution, announced a $5-billion battery plant in Windsor.

The automaker said in a statement Tuesday that the investments will help it “achieve a target of 50 per cent battery electric sales in North America by 2030.”

“As we transition to a sustainable, mobility tech company, we continue to review our operations for efficiencies,” the company said. 

The incentives are being offered “in order to minimize the impact on our workforce.”

“The workforce reduction will take effect over the course of the next several months,” Stellantis said. “The company will make every effort to place laid off hourly employees in open full-time positions as they become available based on seniority.”

Currently, 3,942 hourly and 181 salaried employees on two shifts at the Windsor Assembly Plant build the Chrysler Pacifica, Pacifica Hybrid, Grand Caravan and Voyager minivans, according to Stellantis’ website. At the Brampton Assembly Plant, 2,869 hourly and 176 salaried workers build the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Dodge Challenger on two shifts.