Stellantis has signed a preliminary memorandum of understanding with Canadian armored vehicle manufacturer Roshel regarding the possible sale of the Brampton Assembly plant in Ontario. The facility has been idle since production ceased in 2023, and the initial plan to produce a new Jeep Compass was subsequently canceled.

Now, the site could become a defense engineering center. Roshel plans to establish a production facility there, creating more than 2,000 jobs, with former Stellantis employees receiving priority in hiring.

This is an interesting shift in industrial profile: Roshel already uses a full production cycle – from metal fabrication and welding to painting, mechanical, and electrical assembly. The company produces protected vehicles for government and commercial customers, including the Senator family.

For Stellantis, Brampton became an example of how quickly the utilization of large car factories changes. The plant began to be reconfigured for the Compass, but work was suspended, after which the model's production was moved to the USA. Now, instead of mass production of passenger cars, the site may specialize in significantly smaller volumes but more complex products.

However, the deal is not yet finalized. Stellantis' negotiations with the Unifor union are suspended, and the current collective agreement expires on September 20, 2026.

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