Stellantis reaches 1,000 new hires at Windsor Assembly Plant

Stellantis said more than 1,000 workers have been hired at its Windsor Assembly Plant as the automaker prepares a third shift planned for early 2026.

Stellantis has moved closer to launching a third shift at its Windsor Assembly Plant in Ontario, announcing that more than 1,000 new employees have already been hired. The milestone marks a key step toward the creation of up to 1,500 jobs ahead of the planned start of the additional shift in early 2026.

The workforce expansion reflects growing production demands at Windsor Assembly, one of Stellantis’ most important manufacturing sites in North America. The plant has built Chrysler minivans for more than four decades and currently assembles the Chrysler Pacifica, Voyager and Grand Caravan, which rank among the best-selling minivans in both Canada and the United States. At the same time, Windsor has begun producing new Dodge Charger models, including SIXPACK-powered gasoline versions and the all-electric 670-horsepower Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack.

The return of a third shift effectively restores employment levels last seen before 2020, when overnight production was scaled back. According to Unifor, the transition to three-shift operations is scheduled for the first quarter of 2026 and is expected to involve roughly 1,000 positions, with a significant share filled by newly hired workers.

For the Windsor–Essex region, the announcement carries broader economic significance. The local economy has long been tied to automotive manufacturing, and unemployment in the area has remained above the national average in 2025. Against that backdrop, the expansion at one of the region’s largest employers could help stabilize the labor market and support related industries.

The hiring push in Windsor is part of Stellantis’ wider investment strategy in Canada. Since 2022, the automaker has invested $7.9 billion in the country, covering plant modernization projects, the expansion of its Automotive Research and Development Centre and the launch of the NextStar Energy battery facility. At Windsor, those investments are focused on creating a flexible multi-energy production architecture capable of supporting both internal combustion and electrified vehicles.

The company is also addressing the impact of an operational pause at its Brampton Assembly Plant. Nearly 240 employees have opted to transfer to Windsor, while other affected hourly workers continue to receive 70% of their wages along with health benefits during the pause. The approach allows Stellantis to retain skilled labor while reallocating staff within its Canadian operations.

Taken together, the developments underline Canada’s strategic role within Stellantis’ global footprint. The combination of workforce growth in Windsor, an expanding product lineup and sustained capital investment suggests the company views the region not only as a manufacturing hub, but as a long-term foundation for its next generation of vehicles.