Two Vehicle Factories in Ontario Now Breathing a Sigh of Relief
Amid slowing demand for electric vehicles and the economic upheaval caused by U.S. President Donald Trump's policies, Detroit’s Big Three have had to revise some of their plans, at the expense of their manufacturing operations in Canada.
However, two Stellantis and General Motors factories in Ontario had fairly good news to share this week.
- Also: GM to Cut One Shift at Oshawa Truck Plant Due to Tariffs
- Also: GM Spends $280 Million for Next-Gen Pickups in Oshawa
First, the Windsor plant that builds Chrysler minivans and the new Dodge Charger will return to three shifts starting in the first quarter of 2026.
Rising sales of Chrysler products and anticipated increased demand for the Charger—especially with the addition of four-door models and ICE-powered ones—justify this decision, according to Canadian communications manager Lou Ann Gosselin.
In a Facebook post, Unifor Chapter 444 President James Stewart called it an "encouraging step for our members and the community." Some 4,300 hourly employees work in Windsor.
Meanwhile, GM's Oshawa plant will continue to manufacture Chevrolet Silverado and Silverado HD pickups around the clock until at least January 30, 2026, temporarily preserving 700 jobs. This measure is intended to address short-term needs.
In May, the automaker said it planned to reduce production in Oshawa from three to two shifts by the end of the summer due to tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. About 3,000 unionized workers are currently employed there.
Unifor says it will continue to fight to keep all these jobs, but barring another turnaround, the plant will no longer be operating at full capacity starting in February 2026. A GM spokeswoman has told Automotive News that preparations will then begin to manufacture the next generation of gas-powered Silverado pickups.
