Ontario Premier Doug Ford and federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly are urging Stellantis to introduce a new model at its dormant Brampton, Ontario plant following the automaker’s announcement of signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding a potential sale.
Last Friday, Stellantis confirmed the signing of an MOU with Canadian armoured vehicle maker Roshel for the potential acquisition of its Brampton facility. Joly, speaking at a press conference in Toronto, emphasized the protection of Canadian workers in any potential sale but stressed the government’s push for additional commitments from Stellantis.
“We are advocating for a new model to be produced at the Brampton plant by Stellantis, and we will exert maximum pressure to ensure this, with the option of seeking a refund if necessary,” stated Joly.
Ford echoed Joly’s sentiments, emphasizing the need for a new model at the plant and praising the skills of the Canadian auto workforce. Stellantis, which employs over 11,000 workers in Ontario, is a vital contributor to the province’s economy, and the government aims to build upon this collaboration.
CBC News has sought comments from Stellantis on the matter.
Stellantis’ Brampton plant has been inactive since 2023, initially for retooling for Jeep Compass production before the company halted the plan in early 2025. The subsequent decision to shift Jeep Compass production to the U.S. sparked a stern response from the federal government, which had threatened legal action over commitments made by Stellantis in agreements with the federal and provincial governments.
These commitments included meeting production obligations at the Brampton plant in exchange for a $15-billion performance incentive from Ottawa and Ontario.
Amidst concerns surrounding the future of the Brampton plant following the MOU with Roshel, Unifor, the union representing workers, has expressed apprehension. Negotiations between the automaker and the union are at a standstill as the current collective agreement nears expiration on September 20. Unifor National President Lana Payne has urged the federal government to intervene to prevent potential job losses impacting more than 2,000 workers.
Payne emphasized that the proposal to sell the plant to a non-automaker should face strong opposition from the government.
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