Brampton Plant Workers Growing “Concerned” Over Stellantis Production Pause
Months-Long Delay Leaves Thousands In Limbo As Retooling Remains On Hold

Workers at Stellantis’ Brampton Assembly Plant are sounding the alarm. What was supposed to be a short production pause has now stretched into several months, and the automaker still isn’t saying when work will resume.

Unifor Local 1285 President Vito Beato told the Brampton Guardian that the situation has left thousands of workers in a state of uncertainty. The plant, which last built the Chrysler 300 (LX), Dodge Charger (LD), and Dodge Challenger (LA), officially stopped vehicle production just before Christmas 2023. A 24-month retooling period was planned to transition the plant to electric vehicle (EV) production, but work came to a halt on February 20, 2025—originally scheduled as an eight-week pause. It’s now well past that timeline, and there’s still no end in sight.
“We think that’s tied into tariffs and what that looks like for costs,” Beato said. “We’re concerned. Our plant is in a vulnerable position. Our plant cannot deal with tariffs.”

The Brampton facility employs around 3,000 workers, and another 1,000-plus are employed at supplier companies that depend on the plant’s activity. While union-negotiated protections—such as income, benefits, and pensions—are in place for plant workers, the situation is more dire for those at the supplier level.
“The over 1,000 members in the parts supplier base have pretty much run out of their EI,” Beato added. “They’re in a more precarious position than our members at the Brampton plant, but everyone is in the same spot as far as concern and worry.”

Beato emphasized the importance of the Brampton plant to the local community. Built in the 1980s, the facility has provided stable, well-paying jobs for generations of workers and supported a wide network of local businesses.
“It’s provided good work for everyone in the plant, all the suppliers that supply the plant and the community,” Beato said. “We want to get back to what we do best, and that’s build cars.”

Stellantis spokesperson LouAnn Gosselin offered no clear timeline for when retooling might resume, saying only that the company is reassessing its product strategy for North America.
“As we navigate today’s dynamic environment, Stellantis continues to reassess its product strategy in North America to ensure it is offering customers a range of vehicles with flexible powertrain options,” Gosselin said in an email to the Brampton Guardian. “As a result, the Company is temporarily pausing work on the next generation Jeep® Compass, including activities at the Brampton Assembly Plant.”

Gosselin stressed that the situation has not changed Stellantis’ overall commitment to Brampton. Back in May 2022, the automaker announced a $3.6 billion CAD ($2.8 billion USD) investment to retool both the Brampton and Windsor Assembly Plants and expand R&D capabilities as part of its Dare Forward 2030 strategy.
Still, without a clear update or plan in place, workers remain stuck in limbo.
“We’re ready,” he said. “We just need the green light.”
Sources: Unifor 1285 and Brampton Guardian