Stellantis NV is recommitting to US factory investments agreed to more than a year ago as the maker of Jeep sport utility vehicles seeks the good graces of President Donald Trump.

Renault SA registered more vehicles across Europe than Stellantis NV for the first time in December, a month that began with the latter ousting Carlos Tavares as chief executive officer.

The United Automobile Workers union has been pressing the automaker, which owns Chrysler and Jeep, to revive the plant in Belvidere, Ill.

Filosa also moved Jeff Kommor back to his previous role as U.S. head of sales after a disastrous year that saw Stellantis lose nearly 2 points of market share while inventory piled up at dealerships. Tavares had reassigned Kommor to a commercial sales role in February 2024.

For context, Jeep was the best-selling Stellantis brand in the U.S. in 2024. It moved 587,725 vehicles, which was down nine percent from 2023. Since releasing those numbers, Broderdorf also expressed concerns about setting too high of a price for the new Wagoneer. He felt that the company eroded trust among the brand’s customers.

Automaker Stellantis plans to produce a new midsize pickup truck at the assembly plant near Rockford. The move will put about 1,500 UAW-represented employees back to work.

Stellantis is making big changes to turn its U.S. business around after a tough 2024 and the departure of CEO Carlos Tavares.

Announcement comes after John Elkann, chair of the Chrysler and Fiat owner, met Donald Trump ahead of his inauguration

Stellantis’ Belvidere, Illinois, plant has a new lease on life. According to the United Auto Workers, who pressured Stellantis to reopen the plant, the Chrysler manufacturer has recommitted to reopening the plant and building a new midsized truck there.

The automaker is moving to revive the Dodge and Chrysler labels after sales plummeted in 2024, leading to the departure of Carlos Tavares.

Tim Kuniskis retired from Stellantis at the end of May 2024, after 32 years doing everything for the company but mop the floors. He had been CEO of the Dodge brand and then also the Ram brand for his final year, when there may have been a few too many disagreements with his boss, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares.