Stellantis Sells Idled Brampton Assembly Plant to Canadian Armoured Vehicle Maker Roshel
Stellantis has agreed to sell its shuttered Brampton, Ontario, assembly plant to armoured vehicle manufacturer Roshel Inc. for an undisclosed amount. The deal, expected to close by the end of 2025, includes a leaseback arrangement for Stellantis but has drawn sharp criticism from Unifor, which says the closure eliminates 10 per cent of Canada's auto production capacity.
Stellantis is selling its idled assembly plant in Brampton, Ontario, along with associated equipment, to Canadian armoured vehicle manufacturer Roshel Inc. for an undisclosed amount. The transaction follows a memorandum of understanding signed between the two companies in September and is expected to close by the end of this year, subject to government and regulatory requirements.
Under the terms of the agreement, Stellantis will lease back 25 per cent of the facility for possible vehicle assembly, while Roshel retains control over the remainder of the site. The 2.95-million-square-foot factory, built in 1986 on 269 acres of land, halted operations in 2023, resulting in the layoff of more than 2,000 workers.
The sale has prompted strong opposition from Unifor, the union representing more than 9,000 Stellantis workers across Canada. Unifor national president Lana Payne stated that closing and selling the plant cuts Canada's auto vehicle production capacity by 10 per cent. Tensions between the automaker and the union escalated after Stellantis paused plans in early 2025 to retool the Brampton plant for the Jeep Compass, moving production of the model to Illinois instead. Last month, Stellantis workers voted 97.3 per cent in favour of authorizing a strike mandate.
Federal officials have weighed in on the situation. Industry Minister Mélanie Joly has called for negotiations to protect jobs, noting that Ottawa contributed as much as $529 million to Stellantis for work on plants in Brampton and Windsor.
Roshel produced 1,500 armoured vehicles in 2025. The company is currently among the bidders for the federal government’s light utility vehicle program, which is valued at about $5 billion.