The Brampton plant, which has been inactive since early 2024 for the installation of a new production line, previously employed around 3,000 workers. Published on October 15, 2025, this report highlights that a union representing autoworkers at Jeep’s Brampton assembly facility in Ontario has announced that production originally planned for Brampton is being relocated to Illinois.
Unifor, Canada’s largest private sector union, stated that this shift is part of a $13 billion initiative unveiled by automaker Stellantis on Tuesday, aimed at increasing U.S. production by 50% over the next four years. This announcement follows comments from U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who indicated that the Trump administration aims to eliminate vehicle assembly in Canada and transfer those jobs to the U.S., according to Unifor’s news release.
“Stellantis must not be allowed to backtrack on its commitments to Canadian workers, and governments cannot remain passive while our jobs are moved to the United States,” the union asserted. Lana Payne, Unifor’s national president, emphasized that preserving the Brampton plant should be a top priority for Canada. “Our governments must urgently demand that vehicle investments remain in Brampton and utilize every available means to safeguard these Canadian jobs,” Payne stated in the release.
The news from Stellantis emerged shortly after a union delegation, including Payne, met with Ontario Premier Doug Ford to discuss strategies to combat ongoing U.S. tariffs on Canadian-made vehicles and protect jobs. In February, Stellantis announced a pause in operations at the Brampton facility to retool for both electric and gas Jeep Compass vehicles, with production anticipated to commence in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Before its closure, the Brampton plant employed approximately 3,000 workers. Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa described Tuesday’s announcement as the largest investment in the company’s history. “Accelerating growth in the U.S. has been a top priority since my first day,” Filosa stated. “Success in America not only benefits Stellantis in the U.S. but also strengthens us globally.”