Ottawa to Stellantis: Don’t Bail on Brampton — or See Us in Court

The original story by Pritti Mistry for BBC.

Canada is turning up the heat on Stellantis after the carmaker said it would shift production of the Jeep Compass from Ontario to Illinois as part of a fresh $13 billion US investment.

Industry Minister Mélanie Joly warned the company that Ottawa’s support came with a “legally binding” commitment to keep building in Brampton — and that the government is prepared to “exercise all options, including legal,” if Stellantis walks.

In a letter to CEO Antonio Filosa, Joly reminded the automaker that Canada has poured “billions of dollars” into the company and said moving the Compass risks the future of the Brampton plant. Stellantis insists Canada still matters: a spokesperson said the company is expanding in Windsor — with 1,500 new jobs tied to rising demand for the Chrysler Pacifica and the new Dodge Charger Scat Pack — and that it has plans for Brampton it can’t yet disclose. Filosa, touting the US expansion as the biggest investment in Stellantis history, focused on American jobs and didn’t mention Canada in his statement.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said Ottawa is working with Stellantis to protect Brampton workers and find “new opportunities” locally. The backdrop is getting tougher: Reuters reported Stellantis paused retooling in February after President Donald Trump rolled out new tariffs on Canadian goods. The company says US trade measures have already cost it roughly €300 million ($349 million), and a fresh 10% levy on softwood lumber took effect Tuesday, pushing total duties on many Canadian wood products above 45% after years of disputes.

Stellantis — owner of Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Maserati and more — runs plants across the US, Europe, Canada, Mexico and South America. For Ottawa, the message is simple: Canada rescued this company in 2009 and backed it again in recent years; now it expects Stellantis to keep its side of the bargain in Brampton. The next move may be in court.