The future of thousands of auto manufacturing jobs in Brampton is in jeopardy after Stellantis announced it will shift planned Jeep Compass production from its Brampton Assembly plant to a facility in Illinois.
The automaker confirmed late Tuesday (October 14) that the move comes as a result of U.S. tariffs on Canadian-built vehicles, which have left Brampton’s plant idle since February. Approximately 3,000 local workers have been off the job since Stellantis “paused” production earlier this year. The decision could cost the company more than $2 billion in lost revenue, according to early estimates.
In a statement, Stellantis said it still has plans for the Brampton facility, to be announced following negotiations with the federal government. But that has provided little comfort for workers and union leaders who had long warned this scenario could unfold.
Unifor, the union representing Brampton employees, said the move validates its earlier concerns and highlighted Stellantis’s $13-billion investment to expand production in the U.S. “Canadian auto jobs are being sacrificed on the Trump altar,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “We need the federal government to use Canada’s leverage now to fight for our auto jobs. Stellantis cannot be allowed to renege on its commitments to Canadian workers, and governments cannot stand by while our jobs are shifted to the United States. Saving Brampton Assembly must now be this country’s top priority.”
The announcement follows remarks from U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who said the Trump administration’s goal is to end vehicle assembly in Canada and move those jobs south.
Prime Minister Mark Carney responded Tuesday night, saying his government is working with Ontario and Unifor to develop measures to protect affected employees and to create new opportunities in and around Brampton. “We have further made clear that we expect Stellantis to fulfil the undertakings they have made to the workers of Brampton,” Carney posted on social media. “Today’s decision is a direct consequence of current U.S. tariffs and potential future U.S. trade actions.”
Stellantis stressed that Canada remains an important part of its operations and announced it will add a third shift to the Windsor Assembly Plant to support Chrysler Pacifica and Dodge Charger production.
In 2023, Stellantis pledged to bring Jeep Compass production to Brampton as part of a $3.6-billion overhaul of both its Brampton and Windsor facilities, aimed at converting them into multi-energy vehicle assembly plants, including EV production. That commitment was backed by financial support from the federal and provincial governments.
“Stellantis made a commitment to Brampton autoworkers, to our federal and provincial governments, to our communities, and to this country,” said Vito Beato, Vice Chair of the Unifor-Stellantis bargaining committee and President of Unifor Local 1285. “We intend to hold Stellantis to everything it promised.”
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown expressed disappointment and concern over the announcement. “This represents a step backward from its commitment to modernize and retool the Brampton facility — a commitment that gave its 3,000 workers and their families hope for a secure and sustainable future in auto manufacturing,” he said. Brown warned that growing trade imbalances and U.S. incentive programs threaten the stability of Canadian manufacturing if decisive action isn’t taken.