New Trump Tariffs Prompt Stellantis To Lay Off Hundreds In MI

AUBURN HILLS, MI — Auburn Hills automaker Stellantis announced Thursday morning that it is pausing operations at two assembly plants, leading to 900 layoffs across the Midwest, including at two metro Detroit stamping plants, according to news reports.

The automaker said it will temporarily halt production at a plant in Canada and a plant in Mexico. That pause will affect workers at the Warren and Sterling Heights stamping plants, though it was unclear exactly how many workers will be laid off.

Workers at the Indiana Transmission Plant and the Kokomo Transmission and Casting plants will also be affected by the pause.

The automaker said it expects to resume operations at the two assembly plants on April 21.

The layoffs come just hours after President Donald Trump this week announced sweeping new tariffs, including a 25 percent tariff on imported vehicles.

"With the new automotive sector tariffs now in effect, it will take our collective resilience and discipline to push through this challenging time," Stellantis’ North American COO Antonio Filosa said in an email to workers. "But we will quickly adapt to these policy changes and will protect our company, maintain our competitive edge and continue delivering great products to our customers."

The layoffs also come after the automaker saw a 12 percent decline in first quarter U.S. sales, which were released earlier this week.

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