news October 17, 2025

Jeep Wagoneer Production Halted Amid Aluminum Supplier Crisis

Stellantis idles Warren Truck Assembly Plant for three weeks following a fire at aluminum supplier Novelis, disrupting Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer output just as demand for large SUVs remains strong.

By Marcus Holloway

The fallout from a fire at aluminum supplier Novelis has reached Jeep’s assembly line. Stellantis confirmed on October 17, 2025, that production at its Warren Truck Assembly Plant in Michigan will remain idled for three weeks, disrupting output of the Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer — the brand’s flagship full-size SUVs.

The plant, which normally runs two shifts building the body-on-frame SUVs, went dark the week of October 13. A Stellantis spokesperson said parts shortages stemming from the Novelis incident were the direct cause, and that the pause would run through approximately November 3.

“We are working closely with our supply chain partners to minimize disruption,” the spokesperson said. “Our priority is getting the Warren Truck team back to full production as safely and quickly as possible.”

Novelis, a major supplier of automotive-grade aluminum sheet, suffered a fire at its Oswego, New York facility in late September. The incident suspended aluminum sheet production at the plant, which supplies material to multiple automakers. Ford was the first to acknowledge the impact, cutting production of the F-150 and Expedition at its Kentucky Truck Plant in early October. Stellantis is now the second major automaker to feel the squeeze.

The timing is particularly unfortunate for Jeep. The Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer have been contributing meaningfully to Stellantis’ North American margins, with the three-row SUVs commanding strong transaction prices above sticker in some markets. Dealers report that inventory of the Grand Wagoneer — the higher-volume, higher-margin variant — has already thinned in recent weeks following the production cut.

“This is demand outpacing supply in the worst possible way,” said one Midwest Jeep franchise dealer who asked not to be named. “We’ve got buyers ready to sign, and we’re telling them it’ll be months before we can allocate them a Grand Wagoneer. Now we’re staring at another three-week hole in production.”

Industry analysts estimate the three-week halt will cost Stellantis roughly 4,000 to 5,000 units of production across the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer lines combined. Given the vehicles’ MSRP range of $60,000 to $105,000, that translates to a potential revenue shortfall of $250 million or more — though the lost production could partially be recovered once the supplier situation resolves.

The Novelis fire has exposed a vulnerability in aluminum supply chains that automakers have navigated carefully since the post-pandemic period. Unlike semiconductor shortages, which dominated headlines in 2021 and 2022, aluminum supply disruptions tend to ripple through more quietly but can halt specific plant operations just as decisively.

For Jeep, the production pause comes as the brand prepares to launch the fully electric Wagoneer S — a model that represents a significant strategic bet on the brand’s future. The electric Wagoneer S, built on a dedicated BEV platform, is expected to begin reaching dealerships in late 2025 or early 2026, adding a zero-emissions option to what has traditionally been a gas-heavy lineup.

Stellantis has not provided a precise restart date for Warren Truck beyond “the week of November 3,” but UAW Local 701, which represents workers at the plant, has been briefed on the situation. The union has been monitoring the supplier situation and expects full production to resume once Novelis can restore adequate aluminum sheet flow to the facility.

For consumers in the market for a Jeep full-size SUV, the advice is straightforward: be prepared to wait. Dealership lots will thin further in the coming weeks, and reorder timelines will stretch. If you have a build slot already assigned, protect it — the pipeline is tighter than it looks.

Related products: