Stellantis postpones Canadian-made 2026 Dodge Charger R/T model amid tariffs

CBC News

· Posted: May 22, 2025 9:02 AM EDT | Last Updated: 8 minutes ago

A Canadian automobile writer says Stellantis's determination to postpone accumulation of a Windsor, Ont.-made Dodge Charger exemplary should beryllium concerning for workers astatine its Windsor Assembly Plant — but it should not beryllium a origin for panic. 

Greg Layson says Stellantis didn't merchantability a ample fig of electrified Chargers successful the United States, truthful the company's announcement Wednesday that it plans to postpone the 2026 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T, the basal exemplary of its EV musculus car, mightiness beryllium an effort to appease U.S. President Donald Trump without costing the institution a batch of money. 

"What I tin archer you astir Windsor is I've been told from radical connected the wrong that, yes, they are focusing connected interior combustion motor versions of the Dodge Charger," said Layson, the integer and mobile exertion for Automotive News Canada.

"That includes retooling the motor line, I'm told to enactment successful a bigger engine."

Stellantis says it plans to adhd a four-door Charger exemplary successful 2026, and adhd different caller exemplary successful the 2nd fractional of 2026.

Dodge CEO Matt McAlear issued a connection connected Wednesday blaming the determination to postpone the Daytona R/T exemplary connected a request to "continue to measure the effects of U.S. tariff policies."

No interaction connected jobs, institution says

The Trump medication has levied 25 per cent tariffs connected non-Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA)-compliant vehicles assembled successful Canada, though determination are carve-outs for American-made parts.

Stellantis says the determination has nary interaction connected jobs.

The Windsor Assembly Plan employs astir 4,500 radical successful the Windsor area.

There person been respective shutdowns astatine the installation since the commercialized warfare betwixt Canada and the U.S. began earlier this year.

Most recently, the institution announced successful aboriginal May determination would beryllium a premix of shutdowns, reduced hours and afloat accumulation implicit 12 weeks — a alteration the institution did not property to tariffs.

The installation is champion known for producing Chrysler Pacifica minivans. Last December, accumulation began connected electrical Dodge Charger models.

In the short-term, according to Layson, Stellantis's latest determination volition mean less vehicles rolling disconnected the enactment and the postponement of a planned 3rd displacement astatine the works — thing Stellantis confirmed successful aboriginal May. 

"You're going to spot much shifts smoothing; I don't deliberation you'll spot imperishable layoffs," Layson said.

"I don't deliberation anyone should beryllium panicking — not successful Windsor. The concerns should beryllium greater up the 401 successful places similar Brampton wherever that mill is idle, successful places similar Oakville wherever that Ford mill is presently being retooled astatine a overmuch slower gait than everyone thought."  

Minister 'convinced that we tin get to a bully place'

Production connected the 2026 Charger Daytona R/T was expected to statesman aboriginal this year. The institution has not specified erstwhile it mightiness resume.

Industry Minister Mélanie Joly told reporters Thursday greeting that she talked with the CEO of Stellantis, who assured her that Canadian jobs were protected.

WATCH | Industry curate says Stellantis CEO her 'all jobs' successful Canada would beryllium protected:

"We agreed that we would proceed conversations successful a affirmative mode regarding EV investments successful Canada, and I'm convinced that we tin get to a bully place," she said.

"Obviously, this determination is linked to U.S. tariffs, and so, arsenic we said, we would proceed to combat for Canadian jobs, make caller ones and turn the Canadian economy."