Stellantis has announced the sale of its Brampton assembly plant to Canadian defence technology company Roshel. In a news release issued late Monday afternoon, Stellantis and Roshel announced an agreement to sell the plant “for an undisclosed amount,” with the transaction expected to close by the end of this year. The sale, they said, will “create a path to return the Brampton Assembly Plant to productive industrial use,” though no further details were provided. More than 2,200 workers have been on layoff at the Brampton assembly plant since production was put on hold in December, 2023. “Brampton employees have made lasting contributions to Stellantis, and we take our responsibilities to them and their families seriously. After three years of paid layoff, we remain committed to working with Unifor on a fair resolution,” Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa said in the release. “With this announcement, we are driving forward our broader strategic goals, opening new opportunities for Stellantis in the defence industry and creating a path to return the Brampton facility to productive industrial use.” In September, Stellantis signed a memorandum of understanding with Roshel for a potential sale of the plant. Roshel said on Monday that it plans to “create a new centre of excellence for advanced manufacturing” which will “allow Canadian companies to better serve customers at home and export into allied markets.” It did not, however, provide details on how many people would be employed at the facility, only saying that once complete it will “bring much-needed manufacturing space and jobs to the Toronto area.” At a news conference in Peterborough earlier on Monday, Premier Doug Ford did not comment on the rumoured sale but said that “we need to get a (vehicle) model into that plant one way or another.” “We need jobs there and we can’t bring in kits from China. Can’t happen. They think they want to bring them in. No, because that will bastardize the whole sector. Unacceptable. We need them to find a vehicle, a model, that works,” Ford said.
