English Bulldog Puppies for Sale in Sterling Heights, MI

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Stellantis NV is expected to terminate 191 workers at its Sterling Heights Assembly Plant by this weekend, according to the United Auto Workers.

Some 177 of those affected are supplemental workers, also called temps, according to a letter to members from UAW Local 1700, which represents workers at the plant. Another 14 are full-time employees that have lower seniority with the company. The Sterling Heights plant, known as SHAP, builds the Ram 1500 pickup.

Additional supplemental workers at the Toledo Assembly Complex, which builds the Jeep Wrangler SUV and Gladiator pickup, were also being notified of their termination early this week. It was not immediately clear how many in Toledo were affected.

Stellantis said the cuts were part of two separate actions. The supplementals were being terminated effective Oct. 1 after they were hired to help cover for "increased summer vacation usage during the summer months."

Meanwhile, the company said additional indefinite layoffs of full-time employees are planned "across its footprint." It did not provide a timeline for those additional job cuts.

"Stellantis is in full execution mode focused on both protecting the company from the continued intense external market conditions and, at the same time, offering customers vehicles they can afford," said a statement sent by spokesperson Ann Marie Fortunate, related to the planned full-time employee cuts. "As such, we are continuing to take the necessary actions to improve operations across our facilities; this includes on-going assessments of our manufacturing processes to improve efficiency."

Union officials said they expect the SHAP layoff will create openings for more senior workers who are scheduled to be let go from the nearby Warren Truck Assembly Plant in October, when production of the Ram 1500 Classic ends. Stellantis warned that the Warren layoff could, at maximum, affect 2,450 workers, though union officials believe it will be roughly 1,600.

Eric Watters, vice president of Local 1700, said the cut will mean all of SHAP's supplemental workers are gone. Supplementals are union members but are paid less and receive fewer benefits than their colleagues, and help cover shifts for regular workers at Stellantis facilities.

The company previously relied more heavily on them, with some keeping their temporary part-time status for years despite sometimes working full-time hours. Under the UAW-Stellantis contract signed last year, several thousand were rolled over to full-time employment status, but many others have been let go at a number of plants.

"The UAW is committed to fighting for our workers, and we're going to do everything in our power to hold Stellantis accountable for the decisions that they make," Watters said.

He said local union leaders have been asking about potential job cuts at SHAP but were reassured by the company that the plant is busy building the Ram 1500s. The factory is also slated to build an electric and extended-range version of the pickup.

The union was caught off guard, he said: "The company was very, very secretive about what their plans are."

Eric Graham, president of Local 140, which represents workers at Warren Truck, said his understanding is many of his full-time members — laid off when a shift is permanently cut at the plant next month — should be able to take at least some of the roles vacated by supplementals at several southeast Michigan Stellantis plants.

lramseth@detroitnews.com

@lramseth

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Invincible Shield Tour.

The crowd was buzzing with anticipation as “The March to War” played through the venue, heralding Sabaton to the stage. Their opening song, “Ghost Division,” immediately set the tone for the night: fast, furious, and filled with bombastic riffs. Lead vocalist Joakim Brodén commanded the stage with his gritty, powerful voice and larger-than-life personality. They wasted no time, blazing through “The Last Stand” and “Swedish Pagans”- which longtime fans will be happy to know that Brodén now plays without fuss. The band’s musicianship was impeccable, with blistering guitar solos from Thobbe Englund and Chris Rörland, complemented by the thundering rhythm section anchored by bassist Pär Sundström and drummer Hannes Van Dahl. Each song felt like a battle cry, from the anthemic “Primo Victoria” to the epic “Carolus Rex,” which was sung in the band’s native Swedish. Visually stunning, the concert was enhanced by a backdrop of historical footage and imagery, accompanied by an enormous tank rig that housed Van Dahl’s drum kit.

One of the best things about this band is their chemistry together. In stark contrast to the heavy tone of their music, their antics on stage are fun, even silly at times. From Brodén playing a Hello Kitty guitar for “Resist and Bite,” a tease of ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” during “Soldier of Heaven,” to Brodén blowing smoke at his bandmates while donning a gas mask during “The Attack of the Dead Men.” This band knows how to blend campiness and heavy metal perfectly.

Before closing the night, Brodén interacted with a family who brought their 4-year-old son to his very first concert. Brodén remarked how metal truly is for everyone before gifting the kid his sunglasses.

Then came the finale with “To Hell and Back,” which had the crowd jumping and singing along with the absolute powerhouse of a band. As they took a final bow and threw souvenirs to the elated crowd, Sabaton proved once again why they are at the forefront of modern metal, leaving no doubt that their legacy on stage is as formidable as the legends they sing about.

As “War Pigs” and the “Invincible Shield Tour Anthem” echoed through the crowd, Judas Priest emerged from a descending curtain with adrenaline-pumping tracks “Panic Attack” and “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’.” Fans have been eagerly awaiting the band’s return to Detroit the second time around for the Invincible Shield Tour, and the heavy metal legends did not disappoint. Rob Halford, decked out in his trademark leather and studs, commanded the stage with his iconic vocal prowess. His high-pitched wails and soaring vocals on tracks like “Saints in Hell” and “Turbo Lover” sent chills down the spines of everyone in attendance, a testament to his enduring vocal power. Flanked by guitarists Richie Faulkner and Andy Sneap, the dual guitar attack was razor-sharp, delivering crushing riffs and blistering solos with precision and flair. Songs like “Breaking the Law” and “Love Bites” had the entire venue singing along, with fists raised in homage to the band’s legacy. Ian Hill’s legendary bass and Scott Travis’ thunderous drumming provided a rock-solid foundation that kept the energy at a fever pitch throughout the night.

The stage production was a visual spectacle, laser light shows, a giant Judas Priest-style cross looming over the band, and concept album artwork flashing across the giant screens. Halford’s signature motorcycle entrance and costume changes added a theatrical flair that kept the crowd riveted.

They ended their set with absolute hits; a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown)” and “Painkiller,” which left the crowd screaming for more. Which of course, the heavy metal legends obliged. The encore began with “The Hellion” as they retook the stage, leading right into “Electric Eye.” The encore included “Hell Bent for Leather” and a booming finale of “Living After Midnight.” With flawless execution and a setlist packed with metal classics, Judas Priest reminded everyone why they remain one of the most influential and revered bands in heavy metal history.

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AMSTERDAM – Stellantis today announced it is investing more than $406 million in three Michigan facilities to support its multi-energy strategy and confirmed that the Sterling Heights Assembly Plant (SHAP) will be the Company’s first U.S. plant to build a fully electric vehicle.

The Ram 1500 REV, the Company’s first battery-electric light-duty pickup truck launching in late 2024, and the range-extended all-new 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger will be built alongside internal combustion engine (ICE) models in Sterling Heights. Additional investments will be made to retool the Warren Truck Assembly Plant for production of a future electrified Jeep_® Wagoneer, and the Dundee Engine Plant for battery tray production and beam machining for the STLA Frame and STLA Large batteries.

“Sterling Heights Assembly has performed an incredible transformation in record time and I want to thank our colleagues for this great achievement,” said Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares. “Gearing up to build our first-ever Ram electric truck and the range-extended version in Michigan is a meaningful moment of pride for our teams. With these investments supporting both Jeep and Ram, we’re adding innovations to our Michigan manufacturing footprint to support a multi-energy approach that is laser-focused on customer demand.”

These investments will significantly contribute to Stellantis’ Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan to lead the way the world moves by delivering innovative, clean, safe and affordable mobility solutions. Stellantis’ multi-energy approach spans products, platforms, manufacturing and supply chain enabling the Company to adopt a wide variety of electrification adoption scenarios.

Sterling Heights Assembly Plant (SHAP)

With an investment of $235.5 million, SHAP will produce the Company’s first-ever battery electric 2025 Ram 1500 REV light-duty truck. The Ram 1500 REV was unveiled at the 2023 New York Auto Show and will launch in late 2024. The plant will also build the all-new range-extended 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger.

As part of SHAP’s multi-energy industrialization strategy, the teams completed the BEV-specific installations during two planned down weeks, tapping into their ingenuity to finish the work ahead of schedule. Stellantis partnered with equipment suppliers and contractors to carefully plan and execute the installation of a new conveyor system, new automation for BEV-specific processes, and the retooling and rearrangement of workstations in general assembly to be able to produce ICE, BEV and range-extended models on the same assembly line.

The Ram 1500 REV is built on the new STLA Frame architecture, specifically designed for full-size electric vehicles featuring a body-on-frame design, with an all-new high-strength steel frame comprised of advanced materials to be lightweight, yet stiff and durable. The STLA Frame is wider in the middle to efficiently incorporate the battery pack while still utilizing protection afforded by the frame rails. The REV will reach up to 500 miles of range with the optional 229 kilowatt-hour battery pack and up to 350 miles with the 168 kilowatt-hour battery pack.

The 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger offers 663 horsepower, 615 lb.-ft of torque, 4-second 0-60 mph, 14,000 lbs. of towing and zero need for a public charger. It features a 92 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery pack, paired with an on-board 130 kW generator, sending power to 250-kilowatt (kW) front and 238 kW rear electric drive modules (EDMs). Vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-home bi-directional charging affords the Ram 1500 Ramcharger the flexibility to charge another Stellantis battery-electric vehicle or provide power back to the grid.

Warren Truck Assembly Plant (WTAP)

Approximately $97.6 million will be invested at the WTAP for production of a future electrified Jeep Wagoneer, one of four Jeep EVs that will be launched globally by the brand before the end of 2025. Electrified models will be built on the same line as ICE versions of the Jeep Wagoneer and Wagoneer L as well as the Jeep Grand Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer L.

Dundee Engine Plant (DEP)

With an investment of more than $73 million, DEP will be retooled to assemble, weld and test battery trays for the STLA Frame architecture and to machine the front and rear beams for the STLA Large architecture. Production will begin in 2024 and 2026, respectively.

The new components will be built alongside the GME-T4 EVO, launching later this year, and the new 1.6-liter, I-4 turbocharged engine with direct fuel injection and flexibility for hybrid-electric vehicle (HEV) applications that will launch in 2025.

Dare Forward 2030

Stellantis is investing more than €50 billion over the decade in electrification to deliver on the targets of reaching a 100% passenger car BEV sales mix in Europe and 50% passenger car and light-duty truck BEV sales mix in the United States by 2030. To achieve these sales targets, the Company is securing approximately 400 GWh of battery capacity, including support from battery manufacturing plants in North America and Europe. Stellantis is on track to become a carbon net zero corporation by 2038, all scopes included, with single-digit percentage compensation of remaining emissions.

About Stellantis

Stellantis N.V. (NYSE: STLA / Euronext Milan: STLAM / Euronext Paris: STLAP) is one of the world’s leading automakers aiming to provide clean, safe and affordable freedom of mobility to all. It’s best known for its unique portfolio of iconic and innovative brands including Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Dodge, DS Automobiles, FIAT, Jeep_®, Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Ram, Vauxhall, Free2move and Leasys. Stellantis is executing its Dare Forward 2030, a bold strategic plan that paves the way to achieve the ambitious target of becoming a carbon net zero mobility tech company by 2038, with single-digit percentage compensation of the remaining emissions, while creating added value for all stakeholders. For more information, visit www.stellantis.com.