By Gloria Ogbonna

Stellantis, the company behind Jeep, Chrysler, Ram, Dodge, and other automotive brands, is proposing a voluntary separation package for 6,400 of its 12,700 non-union American white-collar workers. This move is a response to the company’s shift towards electric vehicles (EVs), largely driven by tax incentives from President Joe Biden’s administration.

The aim is to streamline costs to support Biden’s green energy agenda, which prioritizes the rapid transition of the American auto industry to EVs, despite a current lack of substantial consumer demand. Stellantis is leveraging tax credits to facilitate this transition.

In preparation for the EV transition, Stellantis reaffirmed its commitment to its Dare Forward 2030 strategy, including the introduction of eight new electric vehicles. Employees considering the buyout have until the second week of December to decide.

This buyout offer follows recent agreements between Stellantis and the United Auto Workers (UAW), which resulted in increased wages, reinstated cost-of-living allowances, and granted employees the right to strike if the automaker shuts down a plant.

In alignment with Biden’s EV initiative, Stellantis, General Motors (GM), and Ford have pledged significant investments.

Stellantis plans to establish an EV battery plant in Belvidere, Illinois, creating approximately 1,300 American jobs. Additionally, Stellantis intends to produce electric versions of various existing models at its Ohio and Michigan facilities.

source breitbrat