A Michigan automaker is issuing parking tickets to employees who return to work in vehicles made by rival manufacturers.
Jeep's parent company, Stellantis, is handing out fines to employees at their HQ parking lot in Detroit for 'parking in the wrong spot' when their cars aren't made by the firm they work for, according to employees.
The company parking lot is reserved for employees driving Stellantis-made vehicles, with rival cars barred from the premises.
'Where do we park if we have non Stellantis vehicle?' one Reddit user queried.
'I park in the outdoor lots, and after I left and returned from a doctors appointment I came back to the competitive lot COMPLETELY full,' another replied.
'It's downright insulting to tell folks that despite having huge parking decks well under capacity, that they still don't have the right to park in any covered area at all and MUST go to the roof and have no choice to avoid the elements.'
The user said that, despite bursting parking lots where competitors vehicles are allowed to park, any vehicle that ends up in the overflow will be ticketed.
Stellantis are issuing tickets to employees at their HQ parking lot in Detroit for 'parking in the wrong spot' when their cars aren't made by the company they work for, according to employees
The company parking lot is only home for employees with Stellantis-made vehicles, and any rival cars are banished to different parking lots or forced to be handed a ticket
A spokesperson for the company told the Wall Street Journal that the preferential parking spaces are for company-branded vehicles, and that 'employees must adhere to posted signage and communications.'
The ordeal has sparked debate online, with many taking issue with companies punishing employees for not wanting or being able to own the cars made by their company.
'How about making cars that employees want to buy and can actually afford? That'd be a great start,' one user commented. 'I bought two cars while working for Stellantis and neither was a company brand.'
'I have always believed this shouldn't exist. I have an Alfa, but the way I see it is that if even with employee discounts, your engineers still won't buy your cars, that says something,' another said. 'You shouldn't have to "entice" people to buy your cars, they should want to.'
Several pointed out other car companies that don't enforce rules such as these, including Ford, according to other users on Reddit.
Both Ford Motor and General Motors have changed their policies at certain headquarters, users said on the Reddit thread. The Ford Dearborn factory reportedly banned employees from the parking lot without a Ford car.
Ford told the WSJ that it does not designate parking spaces for specific makes of vehicles, competitors or otherwise.
Yet, the company also ran into issues with security handing out tickets to employees with cars made by a company that had been bought by the parent company.
A spokesperson for Stellantis said that the preferential parking spaces are for company-branded vehicles, and that 'employees must adhere to posted signage and communications'
Ford Motors said that it does not designate parking spaces for specific makes of vehicles, competitors or otherwise
One employee reported being ticketed for an Eagle Talon sports car in a Stellantis parking lot, despite Eagle being a nameplate for Chrysler which was now owned by the company, WSJ reported.
'Seems like security needs a little history lesson,' the user said.
A spokesperson for Stellantis told the outlet: 'Stellantis is reviewing its processes to help prevent such situations in the future. Employees are encouraged to contact Corporate Security if they believe a parking warning has been issued in error so it can be reviewed and addressed promptly.'
Al Amici, a former Stellantis executive, told the outlet that 'there's a strong motivation to park as close to the facility as you can, especially in inclement weather.'
Amici noted the time saved by choosing closer spots to the building.
The debate, however, remains in full swing.
One Reddit user declared the enforcement as 'such a stupid f*ing rule.'
'There should be an incentive for new employees to get a Stellantis automobile,' they continued.
The issue sparked debate online, with many taking issue with companies punishing employees for not wanting or being able to own the cars made by their company.
'If I have an affordable payment or paid off vehicle I shouldn't be penalized by having to park in a shitty area because I can't afford to get a Stellantis product.'
Others, however, agree with the enforcement.
'If you clearly DON'T have a Stellantis vehicle, stop parking in the Stellantis parking. It might be an archaic campus law but you still need to respect it,' one wrote.
'The way the automotive industry is struggling right now, why would you want to instigate getting let go over something so simple to follow in an At-Will state lol? The entitlement just blows my mind.'
The Daily Mail reached out to Stellantis, Ford and General Motors for comment.