Jeep Compass may join new Cherokee at reopened Belvidere, Illinois plant

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Jeep’s Compass SUV could be built in Belvidere, Illinois, having departed for Mexico in 2016.

Stellantis previously backtracked on plans to planned to build it at Canadian Brampton plant.

Belvidere will reopen with Cherokee production in 2029 after receiving $800 million investment.

Jeep has confirmed its next Cherokee will be built at the reborn Belvidere Assembly plant, but it might not be coming alone. Its little brother could eventually join it in Illinois, giving the factory two familiar nameplates and potentially solving another awkward production problem for Stellantis.

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Belvidere is also likely to produce the Compass alongside the Cherokee, something Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa Stellantis hinted at last October. But exactly when the automaker might repatriate the Compass is less clear. Both models are currently supplied to US dealers from Toluca, Mexico, making domestic production an increasingly interesting proposition given the current tariff environment.

Related: Stellantis Might Sell The Plant That Built Dodge’s Last Hemi Muscle Cars

There’s also some history here. Jeep built the Compass at Belvidere before shifting production to Mexico in 2016. The Cherokee remained in Illinois until 2023, when Stellantis discontinued that generation and idled the factory.

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The new-for-MY26 Compass (below) was supposed to get a different North American home. Stellantis had planned to build it at Brampton Assembly in Ontario following a major retooling program, but paused that work in early 2025 before abandoning the Compass plan later that year. The automaker is now reportedly considering fully closing and selling the Canadian factory.

Shift To STLA One

The current Cherokee (pictured bottom) only returned for 2026 after a two-year absence and rides on the STLA Large platform, but Stellantis has confirmed its replacement will switch to the new STLA One architecture just three years from now. Pilot production is scheduled for the first half of 2028, followed by customer production in the second half of 2029.

The next Cherokee will also become America’s first STLA One-based vehicle, and Stellantis says Belvidere will eventually produce at least two models using the architecture, Auto News reports. Whether that second model turns out to be a future Compass hasn’t been confirmed, but seems logical.

Stellantis is meanwhile increasing its investment in Belvidere from $600 million to more than $800 million. More than $60 million had already been spent through July preparing stamping, body, paint and assembly operations for the restart. It’s the kind of investment workers over at Brampton would love to see Stellantis drop into their plant to secure another decade of car building.

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Stellantis, Carscoops

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