Ontario Premier Doug Ford and federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly have publicly urged Stellantis to build a new model at the idled Brampton facility. Joly said the government will “put maximum pressure” and will seek a refund if the automaker does not comply.

Ford echoed the call, stating, “We need a new model to go in there. We have some of the best auto workers in the entire world,” and added that the province wants to keep expanding its automotive workforce.

The Brampton plant has been idle since 2023. It was originally being retooled for Jeep Compass production, but Stellantis paused the project in early 2025 and moved the model’s production to the United States.

Stellantis received a $15‑billion performance incentive from the federal and Ontario governments, which was tied to a commitment to keep production at the Brampton plant.

Union Unifor, represented by National President Lana Payne, warned that a sale of the plant could affect more than 2,000 workers. The current collective agreement expires at 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 20, and negotiations are at an impasse.