Windsor impact: Stellantis global vehicle deliveries down 9 per cent

Article content

Stellantis is blaming lower North American production for a nine per cent decline in global vehicle shipments in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same time last year.

Overall, the company delivered 1.2 million vehicles by the end of March.

The company pointed to extended holiday downtime in North America for some of the decline. It also singled out product transitions and lower light commercial vehicle sales in Europe.

Article content

In North America, deliveries were down 20 per cent, with 1,218,000 vehicles shipped. That was a slight decline of 82,000 vehicles in actual numbers.

North American shipments are being further impacted in the second quarter with Stellantis choosing to idle Windsor Assembly Plant, which builds the Pacifica and the rest of its minivan lineup along with the new Dodge Charger, due to U.S. President Donald Trump’s 25 per cent auto tariffs. The company also shut down a Mexican plant that produces the Jeep Compass due to those new tariffs.

European shipments were down 47,000 units, or eight per cent, to 325,000 vehicles.

The company fared better in South America where sales increased by 19 per cent, from 177,000 to 211,000 vehicles. That helped offset losses in China, India and Asia Pacific (down 20 per cent) and the Middle East and Africa (down 15 per cent).

The company is expecting improved numbers with the launch of several new models in the first quarter of 2025.

The new offerings include the Ram 2500 and 3500 heavy-duty trucks, the Citroën C3 Aircross, Opel Frontera and Fiat Grande Panda.

Stellantis said the new models are helping build momentum in order intake, while inventory levels remain at normalized levels.

dwaddell@postmedia.com

Share this article in your social network