Stellantis memorandum with Roshel fuels tensions in Brampton
Stellantis NV has told Canadian stakeholders it has a tentative deal — a memorandum of understanding — with defence manufacturer Roshel to take over the shuttered Brampton Assembly Plant, a development that has intensified concerns among autoworkers and local leaders over the facility’s future and the economic impact on Brampton.
The sprawling site, described by the company as roughly 3 million square feet, stopped producing Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger sedans in late 2023. The plant had been expected to be retooled for new programs, but those plans never materialized and the facility has remained idle.
Unifor, the union representing autoworkers, responded to the Stellantis announcement by saying the proposal to sell the plant has been a central point of contention in collective bargaining. The union said talks with Stellantis reached an impasse after 10 days of negotiations and warned a sale would put member compensation and benefits at risk.
"The persistence of the company’s proposal to close and sell the Brampton plant has hindered the bargaining process," the union said. It added that a sale would "threaten the wages, pensions and other benefits of Unifor members."
The current Stellantis collective agreement is due to expire on Sept. 20, and Unifor has already reached new three-year deals with General Motors and Ford. Those separate agreements further underline the stakes for Stellantis workers who had hoped the Brampton plant would be reactivated.
Company says Roshel offers path to sustainable operations
Stellantis spokesperson LouAnn Gosselin confirmed the memorandum of understanding with Roshel, a Canadian defence manufacturer that designs and builds armoured vehicles. In a statement, Stellantis framed the potential transaction as a way to restore activity at the site and preserve the plant’s role in Canada’s advanced manufacturing sector.
"Following consideration of a number of potential opportunities, Stellantis believes that Roshel represents a strong path to restoring sustainable operations at Brampton Assembly, preserving the site's strategic role in Canada's advanced manufacturing sector and helping to avoid a prolonged period of inactivity," the company said in its statement.
Union and community concerns
Unifor officials have argued there is no replacement for automotive assembly in terms of jobs, pay and long-term economic benefits. The union has consistently pressed Stellantis to reopen and invest in the plant so that former employees and the community could benefit from renewed vehicle production.
Beyond direct employment, the plant’s future feeds into a broader conversation about Brampton’s industrial identity and the gap between the city’s need for stable manufacturing work and shifts in global automotive strategies. Local suppliers, service businesses and municipal revenue streams are all tied to the operational status of large assembly facilities.
- Plant size: approximately 3 million square feet
- Last production: Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Dodge Challenger (ended late 2023)
- Labour context: Stellantis agreement expires Sept. 20; Unifor bargaining at an impasse
- Potential buyer: Roshel, Canadian armoured-vehicle manufacturer
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Plant status | Shuttered since late 2023 |
| Footprint | ~3 million sq. ft. |
| Potential new operator | Roshel (memorandum of understanding) |
| Collective agreement | Stellantis contract expires Sept. 20; Unifor at impasse |
Union leaders warn that converting an auto assembly facility to defence manufacturing would not necessarily replace the number or type of jobs previously provided by automotive assembly, nor would it guarantee the same wage and pension structures. Stellantis, for its part, said it believes Roshel could help restore sustainable operations and prevent long-term inactivity at the site.
For Brampton residents, the outcome has tangible implications: employment opportunities, local supplier contracts and municipal economic health hinge on what happens next. The memorandum of understanding is a step toward a transaction, but it does not ensure final sale or immediate reactivation.
As bargaining deadlines loom and the parties continue to exchange positions, the uncertainty will remain a central concern for former plant workers, union representatives and the wider Brampton community watching closely for any firm commitments on jobs, benefits and long-term investment.
