Jeep just recently brought back the Cherokee SUV, but already it appears the automaker is preparing a next generation. According to Automotive News, Stellantis plans to launch a new iteration of the compact SUV in 2029, just three years after the nameplate returned for the 2026 model-year.
This next generation will be assembled at the Belvidere plant in Illinois and be built on the new STLA One architecture. Stellantis plans to invest over $800 million USD in the facility. Production for retail models is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2029.
A short life cycle on the STLA Large platform
The current Cherokee, launched for 2026 following a notable hiatus, rides on the STLA Large platform and relies primarily on a hybrid powertrain. However, this setup will only see a short life cycle, as Jeep already plans to transition the model to STLA One for the next generation.
Pre-production phases for the future Cherokee are expected to begin during the first half of 2028. The model will become the first vehicle built in the U.S. to be underpinned by the STLA One platform, according to details reported by Automotive News.
The choice of Belvidere to put the next Cherokee together marks a return to the model’s roots. The Illinois facility previously assembled the model until it was idled in 2023. Prior to that, the plant had also produced the Jeep Compass before assembly was shifted to Mexico.
Belvidere will host at least two models
The Cherokee likely won’t be the only vehicle built at the Belvidere, Illinois plant. Stellantis also plans to use that facility to manufacture the Jeep Compass, which is currently built alongside the Cherokee in Toluca, Mexico.
Preparatory work is already under way at Belvidere. Stellantis has reportedly spent over $60 million USD through July 2026 to upgrade facilities related to stamping, body assembly, paint and final assembly.
What about the Brampton Plant?
All the talk about Belvidere only raises more questions about Brampton, of course. Shifting production to Illinois adds another layer of uncertainty surrounding Stellantis' assembly plant in Ontario. The facility was originally slated to produce the next-generation Jeep Compass, but retooling was halted in February 2025, and the program was reassigned to Belvidere.
According to Automotive News, citing the Unifor union, Stellantis is now seriously considering selling the Brampton facility to a third party, one that is not an automaker. Unifor indicates that Stellantis notified them on August 12 of its intention to enter discussions regarding a potential sale. For its part, the automaker maintains it is seeking a viable manufacturing solution for the site.