Week Ahead: Plant closures, UAW votes and a Hybrid

Although the year is winding down, the number of big stories we’re following this week is ramping up.

First, we’ll continue to follow the news that Stellantis is indefinitely shutting down its plant in Belvidere, Illinois. The company revealed last Friday it filed a WARN notice, which is required anytime a company plans to shut down a plant or engages in a mass layoff, for the plant, which will close Feb. 28, officials said in the filing.

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The facility employs more than 1,300 people and builds the Jeep Cherokee, sales of which are down more than 60% this year. There have been rumblings the company may be looking to cut the low-selling model from its line-up. 

We’ll continue to follow that story throughout the week as the long-term fate of the facility comes clear. 

We’ll also follow up on the status of the ongoing UAW election. Current President Ray Curry is set to participate in a runoff election against reformist candidate Shawn Fain as well as the other races that came down to round two of voting.

Finally, we’ll get to offer up some product news. TheDetroitBureau headed to San Diego last week to put some miles on the all-new Toyota Prius. Revealed during the LA Auto Show last month, the new model gets an all new design for 2023 that pushes more toward the mainstream. Check out our driving impressions on Wednesday morning.