BYD Inquires About Idled Stellantis Plant in Brampton
BYD Co. and other firms have inquired about acquiring an idled Stellantis assembly plant in Brampton as U.S. tariffs threaten Canadian auto jobs.
Chinese automaker BYD Co. has inquired about taking over an idled Stellantis NV assembly plant in Brampton, Ontario, to manufacture buses. The facility has been inactive since late 2023 after Stellantis halted production of the Jeep Compass due to U.S. tariffs on foreign automobiles.
Other interested parties include the Italian automaker Leapmotor International and Canadian defense firms Roshel Inc. and Dominion Dynamics, with the latter proposing drone production. The potential transition occurs as President Donald Trump threatens to increase tariffs on Canadian-made vehicles to 50% by January 1.
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown noted that Stellantis previously indicated no business case for auto jobs in Canada exists as long as tariffs remain. While Stellantis says it is seeking a sustainable manufacturing solution for the plant, Prime Minister Mark Carney has sought to attract Chinese joint-venture investment to offset trade pressures from the United States.
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