Stellantis Sells Brampton Plant to Armoured Vehicle Maker Roshel

Brampton Assembly Plant Sold

Stellantis has sold its idled vehicle assembly plant in Brampton, Ontario, to Canadian armoured vehicle maker Roshel Inc., the automaker announced on Monday.

The transaction transfers the factory and associated equipment for an undisclosed amount, according to a joint statement reported by cbc.ca. The deal is slated to close by the end of this year, pending regulatory approvals.

Union Condemns Betrayal

The sale immediately drew fierce opposition from Unifor, which represents Canadian autoworkers. Unifor National President Lana Payne called the transaction an unacceptable outcome and the worst-case scenario for the country’s manufacturing sector.

Stellantis has betrayed our members with an underhanded deal to sell the plant and walk away from its commitments to these workers, Payne told a news conference reported by cbc.ca.

She added that closing and selling the facility cuts Canada’s auto vehicle production capacity by 10 per cent.

Unifor Master Bargaining Chairperson James Stewart noted that losing the plant sets a dangerous precedent. If the company can tear up our collective agreement and walk away from Brampton then there are no guarantees for the rest of its production in Canada, Stewart said, as covered by Unifor National.

Defence Pivot Planned

Roshel founder Roman Shimonov stated that the company intends to establish a new centre of excellence for advanced manufacturing at the site. The acquisition is intended to align with Canada’s defence industrial strategy by boosting sovereign manufacturing capabilities.

Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa defended the sale as a path to return the idled factory to productive industrial use while creating new opportunities in the defence sector.

Filosa acknowledged that the company remains committed to working with Unifor on a fair resolution for the workforce, according to cbc.ca.

More than 2,000 workers lost their jobs when Stellantis halted operations at the site in 2023. The automaker subsequently paused plans to retool the factory for Jeep production following the imposition of U.S. tariffs on Canadian-made vehicles, The Globe and Mail reported.

Ministers Demand Talks

Federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly stated on the social media platform X that the sale does not erase the commitments Stellantis made to its workers. Joly called on Stellantis, Unifor, Ontario provincial officials, and municipal representatives to convene for urgent negotiations.

I expect them to come to the table with a single focus: protecting good-paying jobs in Brampton, Joly wrote in her statement reported by cbc.ca. International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu echoed the demand, emphasizing that affected families deserve clear answers regarding their economic future.

Questions About Future Production

• Will federal and provincial regulators approve the transaction before the projected year-end closing date?
• Can Unifor and Stellantis negotiate a severance or transition settlement for the laid-off workers before job action proceeds?
• How much of the massive Brampton facility will Stellantis lease back for potential future vehicle assembly, as industry sources have indicated?