Seating supplier to cut jobs in Detroit after truck discontinuation

Bridgewater Interiors is planning to lay off 63 employees at its Detroit plant after Stellantis discontinues the Ram 1500 Classic.

The seating supplier said it expects to make the permanent cuts by the end of September, according to a WARN notice filed with the state Monday.

Impacted employees, represented by UAW Local 600, will be paid earned wages and fringe benefits once terminated, the filing said.

Chris Feuell, CEO of the Ram brand, confirmed this week that the automaker would be ending production of its popular, half-ton pickup truck on sale since 2009. The Ram 1500 Classic boasts different features than its redesigned counterpart, perhaps most noticeably the early generation Ram logo on its grill, and it is generally priced lower.

“The Ram 1500 Classic has been a great entry point pickup for Ram, and the Tradesman model has certainly represented the needs of our commercial truck customers,” Stellantis spokeswoman Jodi Tinson said in an email. “With the introduction of the Tradesman trim on the new Ram 1500 for 2024 model year, we bid farewell to the previous generation and remind customers that the HEMI-powered Ram 1500 Classic will sell into 2025.”

The Ram 1500 Classic is produced at Warren Truck Assembly alongside the Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer SUVs. Stellantis said a month ago it would temporarily lay off 1,600 workers at Warren Truck “to align production with sales.”

Bridgewater declined to comment on its plan for layoffs when Ram 1500 Classic ends production this fall.

Crain’s Detroit Business left a message seeking comment from UAW Local 600.