A factory that was supposed to build Jeeps is now being sold to a company that makes armored vehicles. In a statement from Stellantis Canada CEO Trevor Longley, the automaker confirmed it has decided to sell the Brampton assembly plant in Ontario, a break from its original plans for the plant. The release doesn’t name the buyer, calling it only a “Canadian manufacturer.” Other outlets have identified it as Roshel.
How A Jeep Plant Got Here
Stellantis idled Brampton in December 2023 to retool it for the next Jeep Compass, according to a BNN Bloomberg timeline. More than 2,200 workers have been on layoff since. In October 2025, Stellantis said that production was moving to Illinois as part of a $13 billion U.S. production commitment. Canada’s government answered with threats of legal action and, in December 2025, a notice of default.
The Buyer And The Fight
Roshel, a Canadian armored-vehicle maker, signed a memorandum of understanding in September, per the timeline. Stellantis confirmed the agreement on November 9th, and a Canadian plant meant to build Jeeps may now make armored vehicles instead. The price is undisclosed. Roshel’s CEO says he plans thousands of jobs, though the company hasn’t given a number. Unifor president Lana Payne told CP24 that Stellantis “betrayed our members with an underhanded deal.” Stellantis says new jobs will include priority hiring consideration for Brampton workers, and that it will voluntarily return the CA$24 million (about $17 million) in federal support tied to the original retooling plan.
Ottawa’s Money And Stellantis’ Reasoning
The dispute is partly about money. Ottawa committed about $375 million in 2022 to retool Brampton and Windsor, and Canada has accused Stellantis of breaking its Jeep deal. Stellantis says the sale lets it focus on sustaining competitive Canadian manufacturing amid “challenging market realities.” Canada’s prime minister earlier blamed U.S. tariffs for the Illinois move.
Will You Feel The Change?
If you’re a U.S. buyer, the Brampton plant won’t change what’s on a dealer lot this week. But it shows where Stellantis is putting its production, and tariffs are shaping which country builds which Jeep. For a look at what that means for the vehicle itself, see why the Compass update is still delayed for U.S. buyers. The release names no models, prices, or dates. Whether Canada can still force a different outcome is an open question.
