Stellantis is committing $13 billion to expand manufacturing in the United States and reopen its Belvidere, Illinois factory, a pivot the automaker says will bring five new models and more than 5,000 jobs across Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana over the next four years.
The plan includes producing two Jeep models at Belvidere starting in 2027, with about 3,300 roles tied to that site.
Production of the Jeep Compass is set to shift from Stellantis’s Brampton, Ontario facility to Illinois, according to union and local officials, putting thousands of Canadian jobs at risk while details on Brampton’s future remain unsettled.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said Ottawa expects Stellantis to keep its commitments to Brampton workers, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford called the development painful for affected families.
Stellantis has warned that U.S. tariffs on vehicles built outside the country will cost about $1.7 billion this year, and it is reorganizing North American production to reduce that exposure.
Organized labor is split by the border. In the United States, United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain said the decision shows tariffs can bring back thousands of good union jobs.
North of the border, Unifor National President Lana Payne said Canadian auto jobs are being sacrificed on the Trump altar, urging the federal and provincial governments to use every lever to defend the sector.
Consolidating more Stellantis output in the Midwest could steady utilization at key plants and improve model launch cadence in a U.S. market where the company has struggled for share.
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It also changes the near term outlook for Canadian parts makers tied to Brampton’s volumes, even as Stellantis points to ongoing commitments in Windsor, where additional staffing and battery operations remain in focus.
The shift comes amid an unsettled trade backdrop that has strained Canada-U.S. relations and challenged cross border supply chains that have defined North American carmaking for decades.
Ottawa and Queen’s Park are pressing Stellantis for clarity on Brampton’s role and timelines, while the company says further Canadian plans are subject to discussions.
