Stellantis Sells Brampton Plant to Armored-Vehicle Maker Roshel
Stellantis signed an agreement to sell its idled Brampton assembly plant to Roshel Inc., sparking backlash from the Unifor union and the Canadian government.
Automaker Stellantis NV signed an agreement to sell its idled assembly plant in Brampton, Ontario, to Roshel Inc., a Canadian defense contractor specializing in armored vehicles. The transaction, expected to close by the end of 2026, includes the facility and associated equipment. Under the terms, Roshel plans to establish a manufacturing center of excellence, while Stellantis will lease back approximately 25% of the site for automotive work. Roshel estimates that 700 to 1,000 of the 2,000 laid-off employees could return to work.
The sale follows days of tension after Unifor, the union representing the workers, accused the company of betrayal. After a meeting on November 6, Unifor interpreted the company's refusal to confirm or deny reports of a sale as confirmation that a deal was finalized. This development occurred as workers had already granted their union a strike mandate due to an impasse over job security.
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly and Ontario Premier Doug Ford have criticized the move. Joly alleged that Stellantis breached commitments made to the Canadian government after receiving up to $529 million in taxpayer funding and warned that the government intends to recover those funds if obligations are not met. Premier Ford previously demanded that Stellantis find a vehicle model to manufacture at the facility to create jobs, explicitly rejecting the import of kits from China.
