Of the Detroit Three automakers, Stellantis has endured far more turmoil and management upheaval than its two cross-town rivals over the past 35 years. What was Chrysler Corporation back then became DaimlerChrysler in 1998 through a $36 billion “merger of equals” that ultimately saw the German side more equal than the American.
Stellantis headquarters and tech center in Michigan celebrating 30th anniversaryStellantis
Cerberus Capital Management took control of Chrysler for two dark years that ended with the automaker in bankruptcy court in 2009, opening the door to Fiat gradually acquiring equity in the beleaguered automaker until full control was achieved with the formation of Fiat Chrysler in 2014. When Fiat Chrysler merged with French automaker Group PSA, the new entity was named Stellantis in January 2021, 10 months into the global COVID pandemic that left the US headquarters building in suburban Detroit largely vacant.
Through all the changes – the downsizing, the loss of Plymouth, taking orders from across the pond, and the revolving door for top decision makers – the only real constant for US employees has been that headquarters building in Auburn Hills, Michigan, which celebrates its 30th anniversary on June 6.
That’s the date the 15-story tower was completed back in 1996. With its 35-foot-tall Chrysler pentastar window at the top, it quickly became a point of community pride for motorists driving along Interstate 75 through Oakland County – and a constant reminder that you can’t change fast enough.
Stellantis headquarters and tech center in Michigan celebrating 30th anniversaryStellantis
Designing The Building Makeover
There are a handful of employees who have been there since before the building opened, including Ralph Gilles, who graduated from Detroit’s College for Creative Studies in 1992 and immediately started working for Chrysler as a designer. The building was his home away from home as he climbed the design studio ladder and ultimately became chief design officer for Stellantis when the new company launched in 2021.
“So we’re trying to celebrate this building, by giving it a makeover.”
–Stellantis Chief Design Officer Ralph Gilles
Stellantis headquarters and tech center in Michigan celebrating 30th anniversaryStellantis
As the building starts to show its age (such as crumbling concrete in the parking decks), Gilles’ design team recently contributed directly to refreshing the lobby of the Chrysler Technical Center, which opened in 1991 while the headquarters tower was still under construction. “The design office was the very first part of the tech center to be operational,” Gilles, now 56, told journalists visiting the complex this week to mark the 30-year anniversary.
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Stellantis declines to say how many people work at the tech center and headquarters today, but employment reportedly peaked at 15,000 in 2018 at the 5.4-million-square-foot complex that occupies 504 acres, including a 1.8-mile test track (pictured below) and 17 acres of wetlands. A building maintenance manager told CarBuzz that throughout COVID, the complex was always at least 15% occupied.
Stellantis Investor Day May 21, 2026Stellantis
After 30 Years, We All Need Some ‘Maintenance’
Employees have been returning to the building for the past few years, and the five-day work requirement for all employees took effect March 31. A few months before that, health officials inspected the building after employees complained of sickness due to air quality concerns. State inspectors never issued a citation, but the company said it was stepping up housekeeping and preventive maintenance nonetheless.
Stellantis headquarters and tech center in Michigan celebrating 30th anniversaryStellantis
When the CTC opened, Gilles said, “it was state of the art at the time, in a big way.” The self-contained campus was ideal for collaborating, with 34 engineering labs on site, 100 powertrain dynamometer test chambers, and a 140-mph wind tunnel that got a $29.5 million upgrade two years ago, with a 26-foot-tall 12-blade fan powered by a 6,343-horsepower electric motor.
The complex even has a pilot plant where up to five vehicles can be run simultaneously on simulated assembly lines to sort out problems before signing off on full production. During our tour, the 2027 Ram 1500 Ramble Bee, with its massive bright red brake calipers, was set up for production testing.
Ralph Gilles, chief design officer for StellantisStellantis
“Everything was at our disposal, and that has actually served us well my whole career.”
“Being able to literally call engineering down, go to the wind tunnel, go to the pilot plant, even the dynos, we work with engine covers,” Gilles said. “On and on, this building has really backed up the promise, from day one.” But all buildings, like production cars, need maintenance and refreshing, so the design studio got a $4 million upgrade 10 years ago.
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“It was feeling a little old, so we went back and renovated the upstairs,” he said, replacing an old, grainy projector and its temperamental bulb with a new, massive digital screen that gets constant use for reviews by the design team. The French design team was so impressed with it that they lobbied for and got one too, that’s even bigger. “It’s just an example that we’ve never stopped investing in this place.”
Let’s Not Forget The Past
Gilles is all about the heritage of the Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, and Jeep brands, so CarBuzz asked him if the company needs a museum for the public to see cars dating back to 1925, when Chrysler was founded. The company has assembled a massive collection of classics at Conner Center in Detroit, (see video below) where the Dodge Viper used to be built, but it’s only accessible for events hosted by Stellantis. Asked whether it will ever open to the public, Gilles said yes, once building codes are met to allow larger groups of visitors.
“It’s gonna be expanded. We’re gonna add more stuff to it. It’ll be better. It’ll be juicy.”
Apparently he let the cat out of the bag too early with this news, as the automaker issued a follow-up statement to clarify: “We are actively exploring opportunities to welcome visitors to our Conner Center in the future and hope to share more details as our plan evolves.”
Stellantis Conner Center Detroit is storing Chrysler heritage collectionStellantis
Looking forward, Stellantiis is in rebuilding mode, after difficult years under CEO Carlos Tavares, who never seemed to understand the four US brands, Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, and Jeep. Antonio Filosa took the helm as CEO a year ago this month, and he recently outlined grand plans to grow each brand with new models, while expanding the portfolio in Europe and other markets.
Stellantis is in the process of adding 2,000 more white-collar employees in Auburn Hills, necessary to support the ambitious FaSTLAne 2030 product blitz. The company considered selling the campus property some years ago (while occupying it as a tenant), but it never happened. Stellantis has paid off the debt and owns it all.
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Stellantis has a tortured past, but Gilles suggests the company is hitting its stride now after “some teething issues.” He’s not one to sugar coat anything, and he’s had a front-row seat for 35 years. Today, the 15th floor of the headquarters tower isn’t used for much, except for lucky visitors who get to look out through the pentastar window over metro Detroit and the nearby Amazon distribution center where delivery drones are launched.
Stellantis CEO Antonio FilosaStellantis
As the tower was being completed 30 years ago, a helicopter was necessary to deliver the massive boardroom table to the 15th floor.
That table doesn’t see much action, not like in the turbulent days of top executives Bob Eaton, Jürgen Schrempp, Dieter Zetsche, Tom LaSorda, and Bob Nardelli. Sergio Marchionne kept his office on the 15th floor but later moved to the fourth floor to be closer to workers. Filosa must have liked Marchionne’s approach because his office is reportedly on the ground floor now, where he can watch closely as the FaSTLAne 2030 product barrage takes shape.
