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 a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a potential sale. Stellantis recently disclosed an MOU with Canadian armoured vehicle manufacturer Roshel regarding the potential sale of the Brampton facility. Minister Joly emphasized the importance of safeguarding Canadian workers in any potential sale while emphasizing the government’s expectation for Stellantis to do more.
“We are advocating for a new model from Stellantis at the Brampton plant and will exert maximum pressure to ensure this occurs. If not, we will seek recourse,” stated Minister Joly during a news conference in Toronto. Premier Ford echoed Minister Joly’s sentiments, highlighting the exceptional skills of the Canadian auto workforce. Stellantis, which has more than 11,000 employees in Ontario, is a significant contributor to the province’s economy, and the government aims to build upon this foundation.
Stellantis’ Brampton plant has been inactive since 2023, initially paused for retooling for Jeep Compass production, which was later redirected to the United States in early 2025. The decision to relocate production prompted a stern reaction from the federal government, which threatened legal action if Stellantis failed to honor its commitments made to the federal and provincial governments, including meeting production targets at the Brampton plant in exchange for a $15 billion incentive from Ottawa and Ontario.
The potential sale of the Brampton plant has raised concerns among Unifor, the union representing plant workers. As the current collective agreement between the automaker and the union nears expiration, discussions have hit an impasse. Unifor National President Lana Payne expressed worries in a letter to Minister Joly, emphasizing the potential impact on over 2,000 workers. Payne urged the federal government to intervene to prevent adverse outcomes and criticized Stellantis’ proposal to sell the plant to a non-automaker, calling for strong resistance from the government.
The future of the Brampton assembly plant remains uncertain amid the ongoing negotiations and the recent MOU with Roshel for a potential sale. Both federal and provincial authorities are closely monitoring the situation to safeguard the interests of Canadian workers and the automotive industry.
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