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) regarding a potential sale.
Stellantis recently disclosed the signing of an MOU with Canadian armored vehicle manufacturer Roshel for a potential purchase of the Brampton facility. Minister Joly emphasized the protection of Canadian workers in any potential sale but stressed that the federal government is pressing for more from Stellantis.
“We are advocating for a fresh model from Stellantis at the Brampton plant, and we will exert maximum pressure to ensure its realization. If they fail to deliver, we will seek refund,” said Joly during a news conference in Toronto. Premier Ford echoed Joly’s sentiments, emphasizing the need for a new model and praising the skill of Canadian auto workers.
With over 11,000 employees in Ontario, Stellantis plays a significant role in the province’s economy, and Ford expressed the desire to build upon this foundation. CBC News has sought comment from Stellantis on the matter.
The Brampton plant of Stellantis has been inactive since 2023, initially intended for retooling for Jeep Compass production before plans were halted in early 2025. The decision to shift production of the model to the U.S instead of Brampton drew criticism from the federal government, which threatened legal action to enforce commitments made by the automaker.
These commitments, including meeting production obligations at the Brampton plant in exchange for a $15 billion performance incentive from Ottawa and Ontario, are at the center of the dispute. Unifor, the union representing workers at the plant, has raised concerns about the potential sale of the facility to Roshel and the impact it could have on over 2,000 employees.
Negotiations between the automaker and union are at a standstill, with the current collective agreement set to expire soon. Unifor National President Lana Payne has urged the federal government to intervene and prevent the adverse consequences of the plant sale. Payne strongly opposes the sale to a non-automaker and calls for robust resistance from the federal government.