Stellantis has committed $24.7 million for retooling a production line at its Trenton, Mich., Engine Complex, in preparation for manufacturing two variants of its 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine on a single line. That update of the South Plant engine line is scheduled to be completed later this year, after which the assembly line at the complex’s North Plant will be decommissioned.
The revision to the Trenton complex “will provide maximum flexibility for the operation,” according to Stellantis.
The Trenton complex currently has 1,120 hourly workers and 220 salaried workers. Stellantis has made not statement on the future employment picture there.
Production of the upgraded Pentastar engine will begin at the South Plant by the end of Q1 2023.
The automaker added that it expects to “repurpose” the North Plant “for warehousing and other non-manufacturing opportunities”.
Currently the Trenton complex produces the 3.2-liter V-6 Pentastar engine for Jeep Cherokees and the 3.6-liter V-6 Pentastar Classic for Dodge Chargers, Challengers, and Durangos, Chrysler 200s, and Ram 1500 Classics and DX Chassis Cabs – the latter for the Mexican light truck market.
The V-6 engine was redesigned for the 2016 model year to offer greater fuel economy and performance. The original version of the V-6 engine will be discontinued after 2023.
