- Stellantis’ president was questioned by Canadian lawmakers over the decision.
- Brampton’s mayor claims automaker was pressured by the Trump administration.
- Company is evaluating new options to replace the Compass in Brampton.
Stellantis is once again under pressure over its choice to move production of the next-generation Jeep Compass out of Canada and into the United States. The automaker confirmed that the compact SUV will now be built at its plant in Illinois rather than in Ontario, a shift that continues to stir political tension north of the border.
Read: Canada Threatens Stellantis After Jeep Compass Production Leaves Ontario
Just two weeks after Canada threatened Stellantis with legal action, the automaker’s president, Jeff Hines, was called to speak to members of parliament during a House of Commons industry and technology committee.
Hines described the decision as one “not taken lightly,” but said the current economic and trade conditions made it difficult to justify producing the Compass in Canada.
His comments seemed to allude to the federal government’s move to cap how many Stellantis vehicles can be imported tariff-free following the company’s change of plans.
“We recognize the impact that these decisions have had,” Hines said.
“What we need I think the industry needs collectively is clearly some stability in trade conversations so we can adjust and invest accordingly. We want continue to build vehicles in Brampton and we want to bring something that’s going to work, but we need an environment that allows us to do that,” he added.
Stellantis Favors The US
Brampton had originally been lined up to begin producing the new Compass in February 2026. Instead, Stellantis will relocate production to Illinois, part of a $600 million investment to revive that facility.
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown suggested the company was “bullied by the Trump administration” into favoring U.S. operations at Canada’s expense.
According to reporting by The Canadian Press, the Brampton site has been idle since early 2024 as it underwent retooling for the Compass program.
According to Hines, the plant is not closed, and while workers remain laid off, he says these employees will get “first choice” at the 1,500 jobs that Stellantis is adding to its Windsor assembly site.
What Does The Future Hold?
For now, the future of the Brampton plant is unclear. Ontario Premier Doug Ford recently claimed that Stellantis had told him they would find a new model to build at the factory. Hines added the automaker is considering “a couple of different potential options” but isn’t ready to commit at this stage.
“When we get some stability to the current environment, I think it could do good things for the plant and good things for our customers across Canada,” he added.
Source: The Canadian Press
