Ontario Premier Doug Ford and federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly are urging Stellantis to introduce a new model at its dormant Brampton, Ontario assembly plant following the automaker’s announcement of signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) concerning a potential sale. Stellantis recently disclosed the MOU with Canadian armored vehicle manufacturer Roshel for the potential acquisition of the Brampton plant.
During a news conference in Toronto, Joly emphasized the importance of safeguarding Canadian workers in any potential sale of the plant to another company. However, she emphasized the government’s desire for additional commitments from Stellantis, stating, “We are pushing for a new model from Stellantis at the Brampton plant and will exert maximum pressure for its realization. Failure to do so will prompt us to seek reimbursement.”
Ford echoed Joly’s sentiments, emphasizing the need for a new model to be produced at the plant, praising the exceptional skills of Canadian auto workers. With over 11,000 employees in Ontario, Stellantis plays a significant role in the province’s economy, and Ford emphasized the government’s commitment to maintaining and expanding this workforce.
The Brampton plant, which has been inactive since 2023 for retooling purposes initially aimed at Jeep Compass production, saw a change in plans by Stellantis in early 2025, relocating the production of the vehicle model to the U.S. This decision elicited a strong reaction from the federal government, which threatened legal action if Stellantis failed to honor its commitments, including a production mandate at the Brampton plant in exchange for a $15-billion performance incentive from Ottawa and Ontario.
Amidst the recent MOU with Roshel regarding the potential sale of the plant, concerns have been raised by Unifor, the union representing plant workers. Talks between the automaker and the union are at a standstill as the current collective agreement nears expiration, with potential repercussions for over 2,000 workers. Unifor National President Lana Payne urged the federal government to intervene to prevent adverse outcomes, criticizing Stellantis’ proposal to sell the plant to a non-automaker and calling for strong resistance from the government.
The fate of the Brampton plant remains uncertain, with ongoing negotiations and pressure from government officials to secure a commitment from Stellantis for a new model production at the facility.