Stellantis Sells Idled Brampton Plant to Canadian Armoured Vehicle Maker Roshel
Stellantis has agreed to sell its shuttered auto assembly plant in Brampton, Ontario, to armoured vehicle manufacturer Roshel Inc. The deal follows the 2023 closure that cost over 2,000 jobs and drew sharp criticism from Prime Minister Mark Carney and union leaders, while Roshel pledges to prioritize hiring former workers.
Stellantis has agreed to sell its idled auto assembly plant in Brampton, Ontario, to Canadian armoured vehicle manufacturer Roshel Inc., acquiring the facility and equipment for an undisclosed amount.
More than 2,000 workers were laid off when Stellantis halted operations at the Brampton plant in 2023 to retool for Jeep production, a plan that was paused in early 2025. At its peak, the facility employed 2,200 workers who produced between 400 and 800 vehicles daily. Jaipaul Massey-Singh, CEO of the Brampton Board of Trade, estimated that up to 12,000 to 15,000 individuals were impacted by the initial closure, with local businesses such as restaurants suffering reduced foot traffic and subsequent layoffs.
Roshel CEO Roman Shimonov stated that the company plans to employ thousands of people at the site and will give first priority to workers who lost their jobs at the Brampton plant. However, laid-off worker Baltej Bajwa expressed shock at the sale, noting that Roshel's production capacity will be far fewer than the vehicles previously manufactured by the Stellantis workforce.
The transaction has drawn intense political backlash. Prime Minister Mark Carney called the sale a "betrayal" of Stellantis' obligations to Canada and described it as "unacceptable." Under a 2022 agreement, Stellantis received at least $220 million in federal funding for its facilities in Brampton and Windsor. A provision added to that funding deal in 2023 allows closing the Brampton plant before 2035 without violation if circumstances beyond Stellantis' control made it commercially unviable and the company provided substantial evidence of trying to secure alternative mandates. Stellantis announced it would voluntarily repay subsidies received from the government related to the Brampton plant. In December, Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said the federal government would serve Stellantis with a notice of default under its contracts with Ottawa.
Unifor National President Lana Payne called the sale an "unacceptable outcome" and the "worst-case scenario" for the union and its members. Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown criticized Stellantis for receiving government bailouts based on production commitments, stating that residents are rightfully angry.
Despite the controversy, some local stakeholders see potential economic rejuvenation. Massey-Singh believes the sale will be a boon to the city, even as former workers face uncertainty regarding future employment despite Roshel's hiring promises.