Stellantis in Auburn Hills is bolstering its local manufacturing operations by expanding the stamping capabilities in its Sterling Stamping Plant (SSP) and Warren Stamping Plant (WSP). The cost of the project wasn’t provided.
The two facilities are central to the company’s North America manufacturing operations, according to Stellantis. They supply critical components for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram vehicle production.
The addition of a blanking press at the Warren Stamping Plant further strengthens that system, increasing in-house capability and supporting key vehicle programs.
The plants supply the hoods, doors, liftgates, and other structural components that move from press lines to assembly plants across the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
“When people think about vehicle manufacturing, they usually picture the assembly line,” says Ed Daniels Jr., vice president of North America injection and stamping operations. “But stamping is where that work begins.
“Sterling and Warren give our North America operations the scale, speed, and flexibility needed to deliver precision parts on time, support key vehicle programs, and help drive sustainable, profitable growth. As Stellantis executes its $13 billion U.S. investment plans, these plants and the people behind them are critical to strengthening our manufacturing foundation and keeping assembly operations moving.”
Inside both SSP and WSP, massive metal coils are fed into high-speed presses, where each powerful stroke cuts, shapes, and forms metal into precise components. The process moves with a steady, highly choreographed rhythm. What begins as flat material quickly becomes recognizable, taking shape to exact specifications before moving downstream.
The operations at SSP and WSP are structured around three shifts per day at each facility, creating six coordinated shifts that work in succession to maintain a steady flow of parts. This cadence allows for dedicated time to service equipment, perform maintenance, and ensure operations remain optimized for the next production cycle.
Sterling Stamping, spanning more than 2.7 million square feet, is one of the largest stamping facilities in the world. Its scale allows it to support multiple vehicle programs simultaneously, producing millions of components with the consistency required to keep assembly operations running smoothly across Stellantis’ U.S., Canada, and Mexico footprints.
Down the road, Warren Stamping brings a different kind of strength to the operation — speed. The plant is home to one of the fastest high-speed transfer press lines globally.
Known internally as “Hellcat,” it can move up to 15 pieces per minute through the press while maintaining the tight tolerances required for modern vehicle design. Adding the blanking press allows for flat metal blanks to be produced in-house before being formed into vehicle components.
“The new press has the capacity to produce between 4.5 million and 6 million parts annually for vehicles, including the Ram 1500 and three Jeep models — the Wrangler, Gladiator, and Grand Cherokee,” says Curtis Booth, vice president and plant manager of the Warren Stamping Plant. “Together, the Hellcat line and the new blanking press give WSP the ability to both prepare and form critical vehicle components within a highly integrated manufacturing operation.”
Among the most advanced tools utilized at the plants is the Automated Body Inspection System (ABIS), which captures images and analyzes part geometry to validate precision throughout the production process. The system has become a critical quality checkpoint inside central stamping operations, helping teams quickly identify and resolve potential issues before parts ever reach assembly.
“Our workforce is what makes an operation like this possible,” says Greg Bauer, vice president and plant manager of the Sterling Stamping Plant. “There’s a level of ownership and pride across every shift that ensures we’re delivering the same quality and performance at all times.”
In Related News: National Hot Rod Association National drag racing returns to Michigan, backed by Stellantis’ Dodge and Mopar brands.
Dodge and Mopar will serve as title and presenting sponsors of the first NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series event at the U.S. 131 Motorsports Park. Racing takes place Sept. 18-20 during NHRA’s 75th anniversary season. The event is the first of six playoff races during the 20-event 2026 campaign.
The inaugural Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals presented by Mopar makes its debut at the standout facility in Martin, north of Kalamazoo, representing the first NHRA National event Michigan stop in 66 years and kicking off the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs in grand fashion.
“Let the Countdown begin,” says Matt McAlear, CEO of Dodge. “We are thrilled to partner with Mopar to bring NHRA National event racing back to Michigan for the first time in 66 years, at the same time we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Dodge Charger. Dodge performance is rooted in drag racing then and now, and it will be a great weekend to kick off the NHRA playoffs.”
To purchase tickets to the inaugural Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals presented by Mopar, visit nhra.com/tickets.
In Other Related News: Stellantis and Factorial Inc. have integrated Factorial’s advanced FEST (Factorial Electrolyte System Technology) solid-state battery technology into a Dodge Charger Daytona development vehicle and the launch of a road-testing program to verify performance, safety and reliability.
Building on previous validation of automotive-scale FEST cells, this achievement marks the first integration of solid-state cells into a Stellantis vehicle and a breakthrough step towards automotive-grade application.
“Battery development is a balancing act. It’s not enough to optimize a single metric. We need a system that delivers real benefits in a real vehicle,” says Ned Curic, chief engineering and technology officer at Stellantis. “This milestone shows we are bringing solid-state batteries closer to our customers with the potential for longer range, faster charging, and lower costs. Just as important, FEST’s strong compatibility with lithium-ion manufacturing processes gives us a critical path to scale this technology.”
In 2025, Stellantis and Factorial demonstrated FEST cells with an energy density of 375 Wh/kg, ultra-fast charging from 15 percent to 90 percent in 18 minutes and reliability from -30 °C to 45 °C.
With the integration milestone complete, Stellantis and Factorial have started a road testing and calibration program. The testing program will help tune and further verify pack performance and reliability under charging and driving conditions, in addition to vehicle safety.
Original article: https://www.dbusiness.com/daily-news/stellantis-expands-capabilities-at-sterling-heights-and-warren-stamping-plants/
