Stellantis revealed on Tuesday a $13 billion investment plan over the next four years to boost its manufacturing capacity in the U.S., a decision that will see the production of the Jeep Compass move from Ontario to Illinois and has sparked worries about Canadian employment. The company, previously known as Chrysler, announced that the Jeep Compass, originally set for production at the Brampton Assembly Plant, will now be manufactured at the Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois.
This move by Stellantis is expected to raise its U.S. vehicle production by 50% and create over 5,000 new jobs. However, in Canada, concerns have been raised about the impact on jobs. Unifor national president Lana Payne expressed disappointment, stating that “auto jobs are being sacrificed on the Trump altar.”
The Brampton Assembly Plant in Ontario has been closed since early 2024 for retooling to produce the next generation of the vehicle. Still, work was halted in February due to tariff uncertainties. Payne urged the government to intervene to safeguard these jobs.
In response, Payne emphasized the importance of upholding commitments to Canadian workers and preventing job shifts to the U.S. Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown lamented the decision, calling it a setback from the promise to modernize the Brampton facility.
The $13 billion U.S. investment by Stellantis in the U.S. comes amid uncertainty and financial challenges faced by the Canadian auto industry due to tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump to boost domestic vehicle production. Prime Minister Mark Carney attributed the decision to the current U.S. tariffs and potential trade actions.
Carney stated that the federal government is collaborating with the Ontario government and Unifor to protect Brampton employees and create alternative opportunities for them. Premier Doug Ford expressed disappointment with Stellantis and vowed to advocate for autoworkers in the province.
Ford emphasized that no provincial funds have been allocated to the Brampton project and none would be until clear assurances on the factory’s restart are provided. Stellantis was urged to honor its commitments to Brampton autoworkers.
When inquired about the fate of the Brampton plant, a Stellantis spokesperson highlighted Canada’s significance and assured plans for Brampton would be disclosed after further discussions with the Canadian government. LouAnn Gosselin, head of communications for Stellantis in Canada, emphasized the company’s longstanding presence and ongoing investments in Canada.
The decision to shift production of the Jeep Compass has raised concerns about Canadian jobs, with stakeholders advocating for the protection of autoworkers and the fulfillment of promises made to the Brampton facility.