Stellantis Pauses Jeep Compass, Ontario Plant Operations
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Stellantis NV is pausing work on the next generation Jeep Compass and all activities at its assembly plant in Brampton, Ontario.
“As we navigate today’s dynamic environment, Stellantis continues to reassess its product strategy in North America,” the company said in an emailed statement. The halt doesn’t change previously announced investment plans, it said.
The Brampton plant, which employed about 3,000 workers, is currently being retooled to build electric and and gas-powered vehicles for the Jeep brands. Once complete, the plant is expected to return to a full capacity, three-shift operation.
The “unexpected announcement” is a matter of “grave concern,” according to Unifor, the union representing plant workers. It also raised doubt on the timeline of the retooling process, the union said in a statement.
“The chaos and uncertainty plaguing the North American auto industry, which is under the constant threat of tariffs and a dismantling of EV regulations from the U.S., are having real-time impacts on workers and corporate decisions,” said Unifor President Lana Payne. “The threats are also dangerous to our economy and to Canadian jobs.”
RELATED:Trump’s Latest Trade Move: Tariffs on Imported Cars
Unifor said the impact of a delayed start at Brampton would have spill-over effects on local parts supplier firms tied to vehicle production, including thousands of union and non-union workers.
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne said in a social media post after the announcement that the government are in contact with Stellantis and Unifor. “We will make sure that Stellantis honors its commitments and follow through on its plans for Brampton.”
U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened 25% tariffs on most Canadian products imported by the U.S. and, in recent days, has also promised 25% tariffs specifically on automobile imports. The moves would upend the highly integrated North American vehicle supply chain, as Trump aims to drive auto manufacturing investment to the U.S.
“We don’t want their cars, we want to make the cars in Detroit,” Trump told Fox News earlier this month.
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