Stellantis Is Buying Out Assembly Workers

You know things are looking rough when an automaker like Stellantis starts offering to buy out hourly assembly line workers. Paying them to not work probably means the company isn’t anticipating people will be crowding dealerships demanding new vehicles.

Gas-powered Dodge Chargers return this summer.

According to Detroit Free Press, Stellantis is offering voluntary buyouts to UAW workers at over 20 factories in the Detroit and Toledo areas. Apparently, it’s unknown how many assembly line workers will be allowed to take the buyout, but it sounds like the total number could be high.

What Stellantis is reportedly offering is a lump sum payout to workers who have been on the job for at least a year, not people who are on the verge of retirement. What’s more, they’re getting medical benefits rolled into the deal.

Apparently, the offer from Stellantis is on the table all the way until May 8, but management will be deciding who ultimate can take the buyout and when their paid hiatus begins.

Still, this doesn’t sound like Stellantis brass is expecting high sales in 2025. That’s not a surprise considering Dodge, Jeep, and Ram have all been struggling to move inventory. The automaker apparently isn’t anticipating that drought will be over anytime soon.

People can blame this on the cancellation of the Hemi V8, we certainly don’t think that’s helped, but with the entire engine lineup set to return soon, we still aren’t convinced Stellantis will be whipping out a ton of vehicles from assembly lines.

After all, many automakers have been battening down the hatches as they seem prepared for a rough 2025. With inflation and high interest rates squeezing consumers, plus layoffs causing uncertainty and the threat of tariffs putting so many on edge, we don’t think a lot of sales records are going to be broken across the industry.

Image via Stellantis