It’s been a turbulent week for Canada’s auto industry, and nowhere is the anxiety felt more sharply than in Brampton, Ontario, where the future of one of the country’s major vehicle assembly plants now hangs in the balance. On October 15, 2025, global automaker Stellantis announced it would move Jeep production originally slated for the Brampton Assembly Plant to the United States, as part of a sweeping $13 billion US investment plan aimed at expanding American production by 50 percent over the next four years. The news has sent shockwaves through political, labor, and local communities, raising questions about the fate of thousands of Canadian jobs and the promises made by all parties involved.
Premier Doug Ford, visibly frustrated, didn’t mince words at a news conference shortly after the announcement. "You know, I don't understand. They're investing $13 billion in the U.S. — we're an auto manufacturing powerhouse here," Ford remarked, as reported by CBC News. He pledged to do everything in his power to keep the Brampton plant open, insisting, "We can produce the best vehicles anywhere in the entire world, right here in Ontario. So I need to keep pushing like they've never seen before."
The federal government’s response was swift and stern. Industry Minister Melanie Joly fired off a letter to Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa, expressing "extreme concern" over the decision and demanding the company respect its obligations to Canada, especially in light of the billions in financial support it has received over decades. Joly’s letter, posted to social media, stated: "Should Stellantis choose not to respect its obligations, we will act in the interest of all Canadians and hold the company to full account, and exercise all options, including legal."
At the heart of the controversy is a complex web of funding agreements and commitments. In 2022, Ontario had pledged up to $132 million to help Stellantis retool the Brampton plant for electric vehicle production—a move intended to secure the facility’s long-term viability. Combined with a total of $513 million for retooling both the Brampton and Windsor plants and associated research, and matching federal investments, the stakes for Canadian taxpayers and workers are high. Even more significant, a 2023 agreement set aside up to $15 billion in performance incentives, contingent on Stellantis meeting production mandates at Brampton.
Yet, as of October 15, 2025, not a cent of provincial funding has been released to Stellantis for the Brampton project. "I'm not going to give them a penny, because it was tied in to making sure Windsor and Brampton keep going. We haven't given them a penny for Brampton yet," Ford reiterated. Hannah Jensen, a spokesperson for the premier’s office, clarified to CBC News: "Provincial funding was always contingent on project milestones and job creation targets being met – goals the Brampton Stellantis plant has not met and therefore they have not received the funding."
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown summed up the mood in his city, calling the move a "punch to the gut." He pointed out that both the province and Ottawa had made "massive investments" in 2022 to retool Stellantis plants in Windsor and Brampton, and wondered aloud, "Are we going to get that funding back?" Brown, like many, placed the blame squarely on U.S. tariffs, urging the federal government to respond forcefully. "I think automakers are watching Brampton right now to see if Canada will take this lying down, if we'll simply accept our auto sector to be decimated without any retaliation," he said.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, in a statement, echoed the concern and pointed directly at U.S. tariffs as the root cause. "We expect Stellantis to fulfil the undertakings they have made to the workers of Brampton," Carney stated, adding that his government would work with Stellantis to create new opportunities in and around Brampton. According to Bloomberg, Carney emphasized collaboration with Ontario and Unifor to protect Stellantis employees and develop the right measures for their future.
Meanwhile, federal Conservatives have seized on the issue to criticize the government’s handling of trade relations. In a joint statement, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and industry shadow minister Raquel Dancho argued, "After failing to get the deal he promised three months ago, auto workers can no longer afford to wait. Our auto, lumber, steel and agriculture sectors are in freefall because of his failure."
For Stellantis, the rationale behind the move is clear: the company is seeking to shield itself from potential U.S. tariffs by ramping up domestic production south of the border. The $13 billion plan includes reopening the Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois, which is expected to create around 3,300 new jobs. The company’s spokesperson, Jodi Tinson, sought to reassure Canadians, saying, "Canada is very important to us. We have plans for Brampton and will share them upon further discussions with the Canadian government." Stellantis also noted its ongoing investment in Canada, including the addition of a third shift at the Windsor Assembly Plant.
The Brampton plant’s story is one of dashed hopes and shifting priorities. In late 2023, Stellantis announced plans to retool the facility for Jeep production, but that work was abruptly paused in February 2025 following threats of new tariffs from then-President Donald Trump. The plant, which has been closed since early 2024 for retooling, once employed about 3,000 unionized workers—a vital economic engine for the region. The company had been preparing the plant for both electric and gas Jeep Compass production before the halt.
Labor leaders have not been silent. Lana Payne, national president of Unifor, which represents the Brampton plant workers, issued a stark warning: "Canadian auto jobs are being sacrificed on the Trump altar. Saving Brampton Assembly must now be this country's top priority, sending a strong message to any corporation thinking they can take the same egregious actions." Payne called on the federal government to use every lever at its disposal to protect Canadian jobs. "Governments cannot stand by while our jobs are shifted to the United States," she said, as reported by Bloomberg.
The stakes are enormous, not just for the workers whose livelihoods depend on the plant, but for the broader Canadian auto sector and the communities built around it. The Brampton facility’s closure—or even its prolonged uncertainty—would ripple through the local economy, affecting suppliers, retailers, and families alike. The question now is whether political pressure, legal threats, and ongoing negotiations can persuade Stellantis to reverse course or, at the very least, ensure a future for auto manufacturing in Brampton.
As the dust settles on Stellantis’ bombshell announcement, the fate of Brampton’s assembly plant remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: the battle lines have been drawn, and the coming weeks will test the resolve of political leaders, labor unions, and corporate executives alike as they grapple with the future of Canadian auto manufacturing.