Greg Layson

Stellantis’ decision to cut another shift at its minivan plant in Windsor, Ont., might ultimately be “good news,” says Ontario’s premier.

The automaker didn’t say when one of the two remaining shifts will be slashed, but it did blame the ongoing semiconductor shortage and COVID-19 pandemic for the change.

The Detroit 3 automakers said they will require all employees, contractors and visitors at their Canadian facilities be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 — and show proof — beginning later this year.

The automaker now says it will resume production of minivans at its factory in Windsor, Ontario, on Sept. 27, just days after saying it would idle production there.

Stellantis has added another week of downtime at its minivan plant in Windsor, Ontario, due to the ongoing global shortage of semiconductors. The automaker also idled its Belvidere, Ill., plant for another week.

Pfaff operates 16 dealerships across Canada — 11 of them in the Toronto area. The deal closed Monday and marks Lithia’s first international acquisition.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s blueprint has been called many things, such as a goal, target, vision, ambition and mandate. What it has yet to be called is a law.

Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said the automaker is considering Canada as home to one of two battery plants the company plans to build in North America.

Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said by 2035 all new cars and light-duty trucks sold in the country will be zero-emission vehicles.

BrightDrop EV600 commercial van production will shift to the CAMI Assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ont.,  in November 2022 following a four-month plant retooling.

The Ontario plant resumed operation the week of May 31, but not at full capacity. Other than those handful of shifts, the plant has been down since March 29.

The plant has been running this week, but not at full capacity. The automaker didn’t elaborate on the number of shifts or vehicles it intends to produce this week.

The plant in Windsor, Ontario, has been down since March 29 due to the global microchip shortage. The automaker had planned to resume production May 24.

Key parts supplier Toyotetsu ceased production the week of April 26 after eight employees tested positive for the virus.

GM plans to begin full-size truck production in Oshawa sometime in the fourth quarter of this year.