Prime Minister Justin Trudeau plans to tour the Stellantis minivan plant in Windsor, Ont., on Jan. 17, several sources close to the plan tell Automotive News Canada.
However, the sources say the tour comes at the request of the federal government and that the automaker has no announcement to make. Trudeau will make himself available to media.
Stellantis representatives in Canada weren't immediately available for comment.
Windsor Assembly Plant currently builds the Chrysler Pacifica, the Grand Caravan specifically for the Canadian market and the Voyager for fleet sales.
But, according to U.S.-based forecasting firm AutoForecast Solutions (AFS), the plant will soon assemble the next generation of the Dodge Charger and Challenger. They are to be electrified versions of the muscle cars. Production of the current generation will stop at Ontario’s Brampton Assembly Plant (BAP) at the end of 2024. Meanwhile an electrified product from Jeep will take over their floorspace at the BAP.
Stellantis confirmed in May 2022 that Charger, Challenger and Chrysler 300 sedan production would end in Brampton in 2024 when the plant pauses for a retool. It also said the Windsor plant would host the STLA Large, a new vehicle platform catering mainly to battery-electric vehicles (BEVs).
The 1500 Revolution BEV Concept pickup Stellantis unveiled at CES in Las Vegas earlier this year is also built on the STLA Large platform.
The automaker says the full-size, body-on-frame platform incorporates the battery pack efficiently.
Stellantis, in a joint venture with LG Energy Solution, is building a $5-billion battery plant in Windsor, not far from the Windsor Assembly Plant.
While in Windsor next week, Trudeau will also attend a fundraising dinner at Windsor’s historic Willistead Manor, where sources say the cost is $1,000 per plate.
Sources say the federal government will officially announce Trudeau’s visit late Monday, although warn, as with any planned federal event, it is subject to change.
