- Stellantis will stop operations at its massive proving grounds close to Yucca, Arizona by the tip of 2024.
- The corporate’s proving grounds in Chelsea, Michigan will stay open and energetic.
- It is unclear if there are any consumers eager about shopping for the 4,000-acre facility.
It is no secret that Stellantis is not having a fantastic yr. Neither is it a secret that its North American manufacturers below Fiat Chrysler Cars are feeling stress to show issues round. Now, they must do it with out using the Arizona Proving Grounds, a 4,000-acre testing facility that Chrysler bought method again in 2007.
It is unknown if a purchaser is already lined up for the proving grounds, which makes a speciality of hot-weather testing. In response to CNBC, Stellantis will finish operations on the facility by the tip of the yr. An organization spokesperson confirmed the information to Motor1, offering the next assertion in an electronic mail:
“Stellantis continues to search for alternatives to enhance effectivity and optimize its footprint to make sure future competitiveness in as we speak’s quickly altering international market. As agreed to throughout 2023 UAW negotiations, the Firm is continuous to market the Arizona Proving Grounds on the market and due to this fact, will stop use of the power by the tip of the yr.
The Firm is working with the UAW to supply proving floor workers particular packages or they will select to comply with their work in a switch of operations. Alternatively, workers might be positioned on indefinite layoff which might entitle them to pay and advantages for 2 years.”
In response to statistics printed by Stellantis, the Arizona Proving Grounds presently employs 69 folks and has 70 lane miles of roadway. Except for hot-weather testing, the situation is sweet for car evaluations in dusty climates and is dwelling to an 18-acre car dynamics space, amongst many different issues.
The sale will not go away FCA with none testing services in North America. The Chelsea Proving Grounds west of Detroit has served Chrysler by its varied iterations for many years. It started operation in 1954 and matches the Arizona facility in measurement at 4,000 acres. A complete of 85 % of car testing for FCA takes place at Chelsea, although its northern location shouldn’t be effectively suited to high-temperature eventualities. For that, CNBC stories the corporate will use one other Arizona location owned by Toyota.
As for different Stellantis properties, there are nonetheless a number of places that might shut down earlier than all is alleged and executed. That features FCA’s 500-acre headquarters positioned north of Detroit in Auburn Hills.
