The prospect of U.S. automaker Stellantis using its Brampton, Ont., facility as a bare bones assembly plant for Chinese electric vehicles is being panned by Unifor.
The union confirmed Thursday that Stellantis is exploring the option of bringing in Chinese automaker Leapmotor to the idled plant to build electric vehicles.
It said the potential move, first reported by Bloomberg, could mean the automaker brings in an operation that relies on much of the manufacturing happening in China, leaving only minor assembly for plants abroad.
“Unifor has very grave concerns about this proposal because it is not manufacturing,” national president Lana Payne said.
“It doesn’t use the Canadian supply chain. There are no jobs in auto parts and very few jobs assembling these knock-down kits.”
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Stellantis did not confirm any talks with Chinese manufacturers, but said in a statement that it is actively evaluating future programs for Brampton and is in discussions with government officials and key stakeholders.
The automaker bought a roughly 21 per cent stake in Leapmotor in 2023 and has since formed a partnership to expand production outside of China.
Stellantis said it remains focused on a strong Canadian footprint with an objective of ensuring any investment decision is sustainable and a long-term commitment that supports workers and suppliers.
The future of the Brampton plant is unclear after Stellantis announced last year that it was moving production planned for the site to the United States.
The decision, leaving about 3,000 workers furloughed, came after the U.S. imposed tariffs on auto imports with an aim to bring more production in-country.
Federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly’s office said in a statement that the automaker’s decision to move Jeep Compass production to Illinois was unacceptable and that it’s working with the company, Unifor and the Ontario government to secure production.
The potential of bringing Leapmotor to Canada comes after the federal government announced it was lowering tariffs on 49,000 Chinese EVs per year to 6.1 per cent from a prohibitive 100 per cent.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said at the time that he expected the deal would drive “considerable” new Chinese joint-venture investment in Canada and create new auto manufacturing careers for Canadian workers.
Unifor and Ontario Premier Doug Ford criticized the deal, saying it would end up being harmful to the Ontario manufacturing base.
“Unifor and Ontario Premier Doug Ford criticized the deal, saying it would end up being harmful to the Ontario manufacturing base.”
Ah poor Ontario, can’t compete on an even base! Get over it and get competitive! Canada needs inexpensive EV’s!
Go for it! Let’s get inexpensive EV’s on the road!
So Unifor, the union that supports liberal Ford and Carney are now upset? Gee, you get what you vote for.
Shutting down production of junk vehicles to build more junk vehicles.
Only in Canada
Very very good ! Time ti bring more Indians to build Chinese EV.
Indians do very good job.Millions more must come to Canada to build everything.
If Alberta doesn’t separate we’re claiming asylum in the United States
They’ll only hire chinese workers as usual. Labor is always abused, along with the tax payer
Before buying the Chinese EV check out all of the videos online of people dying in them due to battery runaway explosions and being trapped inside after an accident with no working airbags and doors that automatically lock and no mechanical means of opening them
How about letting the Chinese selling us peons these EV knock-down kits so we can assemble them at home?
If this goes ahead it will further damage our already injured relationship with our biggest trading partner the USA, but it will make money for Brookfield, you know that company that our PM Carney went to the CCP bank and borrowed a quarter of a billion dollars for. Brookfield is big in the Chinese EV battery production. Join the dots people and wake up for crying out loud.
This has been the insidious plan all along, bring in partially finished Chinese vehicles that need a small amount of work. Use cheap Chinese parts to finish the vehicle THEN LABEL IT MADE IN CANADA !!! Then sell those bad quality and unsafe vehicles from Canada into the USA using our trade agreement. The CCP is always insidious when they plan.
Will the Chinese send workers over to assemble these Ev car kits, will these cars have the name of being built in Canada to avoid paying taxes. Another mess up by Carney and this Liberal government.
“Unifor and Ontario Premier Doug Ford criticized the deal, saying it would end up being harmful to the Ontario manufacturing base”… but beneficial to Brookfield as they own Chinese EV Battery maker, Clarios, who will be supplying all the 49,000 batteries for EVs shipping to Canada.