Stellantis postpones Canadian-made 2026 Dodge Charger R/T model amid tariffs
Automaker Stellantis has announced it is postponing production of a Windsor, Ont.,-made Dodge Charger model in light of U.S. President Donald Trump's auto tariffs.
In a statement, Dodge CEO Matt McAlear said the change would affect the 2026 model year of the Dodge Charger Daytona R/T, the base model of its EV muscle car.
McAlear said the decision was made "as we continue to assess the effects of U.S. tariff policies."
The company says the decision, which only affects this Charger model, has no impact on jobs.
The vehicles are made at the Windsor Assembly Plant, which employs roughly 4,500 people in the Windsor area.
There have been several shutdowns at the facility since the trade war between Canada and the United States began earlier this year.
Most recently, the company announced in early May there would be a mix of shutdowns, reduced hours and full production over 12 weeks — a change the company did not attribute to tariffs.
The facility is best known for producing Chrysler Pacifica minivans. Last December, production began on electric Dodge Charger models.
The company says it plans to add a four-door Charger model in 2026, and add another new model in the second half of 2026.
Minister 'convinced that we can get to a good place'Production on the 2026 Charger Daytona R/T was supposed to begin later this year. The company has not specified when production of the model might resume.
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly told reporters Thursday morning that she talked with the CEO of Stellantis, who assured her that Canadian jobs were protected.
"We agreed that we would continue conversations in a positive way regarding EV investments in Canada, and I'm convinced that we can get to a good place," she said.
"Obviously, this decision is linked to U.S. tariffs, and so, as we said, we would continue to fight for Canadian jobs, create new ones and grow the Canadian economy."
cbc.ca
