by Another crossover may return to Illinois
Jeep has confirmed that the new Cherokee will be assembled at the revived Belvidere Assembly plant. But it appears this plant will get more than just the Cherokee. The smaller Compass crossover may join it in Illinois.
According to the publication, Belvidere will most likely build the Compass alongside the Cherokee. Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa hinted at this possibility back in October last year. However, the exact timing for the Compass to return to the American assembly line has not yet been determined.
Currently, both models are supplied to U.S. dealers from the plant in Toluca, Mexico. Under current tariff policy conditions, domestic production is becoming an increasingly attractive option.
History already knows this route
This is not an entirely new scenario for Belvidere. The compact Compass was already built at this plant before moving to Mexico in 2016. The Cherokee remained in Illinois until 2023, when Stellantis took this generation out of production and mothballed the facility.
The new Compass for the 2026 model year was supposed to get a different North American “home.” It was initially planned to be built at the Brampton Assembly plant in Ontario after a major modernization. But work was paused in early 2025, and plans for the Compass were later abandoned altogether. Now, according to reports, Stellantis is considering the complete closure and sale of the Canadian facility.
Transition to the STLA One platform
The current Cherokee returned for the 2026 model year after a two-year hiatus. It is built on the large STLA Large platform. But Stellantis has already confirmed that its replacement will move to the new STLA One architecture in just three years.
Pilot production is scheduled for the first half of 2028, with series production for customers starting in the second half of 2029. The next Cherokee will be the first vehicle on the STLA One platform for the American market.
According to Auto News, the Belvidere plant will eventually build at least two models on this architecture. Whether the second model will be the future Compass has not been officially confirmed. But such a move would be logical, since both crossovers have similar positions in the Jeep model lineup.
Investing in the future
Meanwhile, Stellantis is increasing its investment in Belvidere from $600 million to more than $800 million. By July, more than $60 million had already been spent preparing stamping, body, painting, and assembly operations for the restart.
This is exactly the type of investment that workers at the Brampton plant would like to see for themselves in order to secure another decade of vehicle production.
Bringing the Compass back to Belvidere could not only be a symbolic step, but also a way to avoid expensive tariffs on models imported from Mexico. The U.S. now has a stricter trade policy, so localizing production allows Stellantis to keep competitive prices on popular crossovers.
In addition, loading the plant with two models on a new platform makes it a strategic asset for the group. For the Belvidere region, this means stable jobs and taxes, and for the company, flexibility: it will be able to respond quickly to demand for the Cherokee and Compass without international logistics chains. If the second model really turns out to be the Compass, Stellantis will gain an efficient pair of compact SUVs assembled under one roof and on a common technical base.
