Overview
- Reports Wednesday said Stellantis is in early talks with Chinese partner Leapmotor to produce electric cars in Canada, with the idle Brampton, Ontario plant under review.
- Stellantis has not confirmed a deal and said it is evaluating future programs for Brampton while holding talks with government officials and other stakeholders.
- Unifor warned the proposal points to assembly from imported knock-down kits, which would keep most manufacturing in China and leave fewer jobs for roughly 3,000 workers tied to the site.
- Canada cut tariffs in January on a 49,000-vehicle quota of Chinese EVs, a change meant to attract joint ventures that has reopened the door to projects like the Brampton plan.
- U.S. officials, including the ambassador to Canada, cautioned that Chinese-linked EVs could be blocked at the border, adding uncertainty for any vehicles built in Canada for the American market.