Canadian auto workers’ labour union Unifor has voiced strong opposition to Stellantis’ plan to massively ramp-up manufacturing production in the US, to the detriment of output plans for Stellantis facilities in Canada.
Stellantis has announced plans to invest $13 billion to expand production in the US, including the shift of Jeep production slated for the Brampton Assembly Plant to an Illinois plant. That move follows pressure from the Trump administration in the US on the global auto industry to invest more in the US or face higher tariffs on imports.
In Illinois, the company intends to invest more than $600m to reopen the Belvidere Assembly Plant to broaden the Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Compass production for the US market. Initial production is expected in 2027, the company said.
The retooling of Stellantis' Canadian Brampton Assembly Plant was paused in February, following the announcement of a 25% tariff on Canadian-made vehicles imported into the US.
Earlier this week, Canada’s Industry Minister Mélanie Joly sent a letter to Stellantis chief executive Antonio Filosa stating that the company had previously committed to maintaining its Canadian footprint, including at Brampton, in return for significant public funding.
“I am writing following calls yesterday with the Government of Canada and Stellantis to express my extreme concern with Stellantis’ investment plans in Canada and to demand that the company respect its obligations flowing from billions of dollars of financial support extended to you over decades,” the letter posted on her X (formerly Twitter) account read.
Unifor is also voicing strong concern and opposition to the Stellantis plans for North America manufacturing.
“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, sending a strong message to any corporation thinking they can take the same egregious actions.”
“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, representing workers at Brampton Assembly Plant. “We intend to hold Stellantis to everything it promised.”
Unifor leadership said it is committed to ‘protect auto jobs by whatever means necessary’, when they were joined by Brampton Assembly Plant workers, community members, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford earlier this month to demand that Stellantis restart the long-delayed retooling of the facility.
“Our governments must, right now, demand that vehicle investment is retained in Brampton and use every lever of influence at their disposal to protect these Canadian jobs,” said Lana Payne.
Trade deal
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has reportedly said Stellantis will decide on future vehicle production at its factory in Brampton, Ontario, once a review of the North American free trade - USMCA - deal is finalised.
Carney reportedly spoke with Antonio Filosa, CEO of Stellantis, earlier this year before the company announced the cancellation of plans to make the Jeep Compass model in Brampton. Filosa assured him the company was looking at building a different model at the plant, Carney said, according to reports.
