Roshel to acquire former Stellantis plant in Brampton, sparking mixed reactions
Canadian armoured-vehicle maker Roshel Inc. is buying the idle Stellantis auto plant in Brampton, prompting optimism from some local businesses and the Board of Trade, while union leaders and politicians criticize the sale.
Roshel Inc., a Canadian manufacturer of armoured vehicles, announced on Monday that it will purchase the former Stellantis auto plant in Brampton, Ontario, along with its equipment. The deal follows the 2023 shutdown of the facility, which resulted in the layoff of more than 2,000 workers after a retooling plan for Jeep production was paused in early 2025.
Local restaurateur Shelly Lewis, whose business suffered after the plant’s closure, said she hopes the new ownership will bring back customers and revive the area. > "The Stellantis plant made business for me because I had staff at all hours come in and I had lots of specials," she said.
Roshel CEO Roman Shimonov indicated that the company intends to employ thousands of people and will give priority to former Stellantis employees. However, some former workers expressed uncertainty about the scale of future jobs. > "Any hope that we had of potentially coming back when we heard the news kind of just got shattered," said Baltej Bajwa, a laid-off worker.
Union leader Lana Payne, national president of Unifor, called the sale an "unacceptable outcome" and the "worst-case scenario" for members. Prime Minister Mark Carney described it as a "betrayal" to Canadians. Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown criticized Stellantis for receiving government subsidies and warned that allowing the company to exit without consequences could set a precedent for future plant closures.
The Brampton Board of Trade welcomed the transaction, citing potential economic benefits for the community. > "Knowing that it's going to result in activity in that plant once more, creating employment for those who are going to be there but also additional employment and economic activity for the community in general, is absolutely welcome news," said CEO Jaipaul Massey-Singh.
Stellantis said it will voluntarily repay the subsidies it received over the years. The sale is expected to generate indirect employment for thousands of residents, according to local business leaders, while the full impact on former plant workers remains to be seen.