Ontario Premier Doug Ford says reports that Stellantis is exploring a partnership to assemble Chinese electric vehicles at its idled Brampton Assembly Plant are unacceptable, warning the move could undermine jobs in Ontario’s auto sector.
According to reports, Stellantis is in early stage discussions with Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology about the possibility of producing electric vehicles at the Brampton facility. Ford said any arrangement that relies on imported parts assembled locally would run counter to commitments previously made to Ontario autoworkers and the broader domestic auto industry. He emphasized that the province expects vehicles produced in Ontario to rely on local labour and supply chains rather than overseas kits.
The Brampton plant previously employed about 3,000 workers before production ended in late 2023 as the facility prepared for retooling tied to Jeep Compass manufacturing. However, that plan changed after the company later shifted production of the model to Illinois. Work at the facility had already been paused earlier amid uncertainty linked to tariffs introduced by the United States.
Stellantis said it currently has nothing to announce regarding future production at the site but confirmed it is continuing discussions with governments and stakeholders about long term investment opportunities. A company spokesperson stated the automaker remains committed to maintaining a strong presence in Canada while exploring options that support workers and suppliers.
Unifor also expressed concern about the possibility of “knock down kit” style assembly operations that rely heavily on imported components. The union warned such arrangements could significantly reduce employment compared with traditional manufacturing while weakening Canada’s domestic auto parts sector. National president Lana Payne called on the federal government to strengthen policies that prioritize vehicles built with Canadian labour and materials.
Meanwhile, Mélanie Joly said Ottawa continues to work with Stellantis and industry partners to protect jobs and ensure long term production commitments are maintained at the Brampton facility. A dispute resolution process tied to a previous federal funding agreement remains ongoing as governments seek clarity about the plant’s future.
