Bridgewater Interiors, a seat supplier to Stellantis, has announced plans to lay off 63 employees at its Detroit (USA) plant after the company discontinued production of its Ram 1500 Classic model, according to a report in the media.
A WARN notice filed with the state of Michigan by the seat supplier shows that the company expects to make this round of permanent layoffs by the end of September this year. Affected employees represented by UAW Local 600 will be paid their due wages and fringe benefits once they are laid off, the filing shows.Bridgewater declined to comment on the company’s plans for layoffs following the discontinuation of the Ram 1500 Classic this fall.
Chris Feuell, chief executive officer of the Ram brand, confirmed last week that the company will stop production of the Ram 1500 Classic pickup truck, which has been popular since its launch in 2009. The Ram 1500 Classic has distinctive features compared to its revamped counterparts, most notably the early Ram logo on its intake grille, and it generally sells for a lower price.
The Ram 1500 Classic has always been the Ram brand’s entry-level pickup, and the Tradesman version certainly represents what our commercial truck customers want,” Stellantis spokeswoman Jodi Tinson said in an email. With the introduction of the Tradesman version of the 2024 Ram 1500, we bid farewell to the previous generation. Additionally, we would like to remind our customers that the Ram 1500 Classic with the HEMI engine will be sold through 2025.”
The Ram 1500 Classic is built alongside the Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer SUVs at the Stellantis Warren Truck Assembly Plant.Stellantis said a month ago that it would temporarily lay off 1,600 workers at the Warren Truck plant “to align production with volume “.