Stellantis Announces $2.8B Investment in Ontario Operations

Stellantis, a global automaker with its North American headquarters in Auburn Hills, today announced plans to invest $2.8 billion ($3.6 billion CAD) to secure the future of its Windsor and Brampton (Ontario) Assembly plants.
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A Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat rolls off the line at the Brampton Assembly Plant in Canada. // Courtesy of Stellantis
A Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat rolls off the line at the Brampton Assembly Plant in Canada. // Courtesy of Stellantis

Stellantis, a global automaker with its North American headquarters in Auburn Hills, today announced plans to invest $2.8 billion ($3.6 billion CAD) to secure the future of its Windsor and Brampton (Ontario) Assembly plants.

The investment also will expand its Automotive Research and Development Centre (ARDC) to accelerate the company’s move towards a sustainable future.

In addition, the announcement supports the company’s Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan and its long-term electrification strategy to invest $35 billion ($45 billion CAD) through 2025 in electrification and software globally.

“These investments reaffirm our long-term commitment to Canada and represent an important step as we move toward zero-emission vehicles that deliver on our customers’ desire for innovative, clean, safe and affordable mobility,” says Mark Stewart, North America COO for Stellantis.

“We’re grateful to both the federal and provincial governments for their shared vision to create a sustainable future. And, to Unifor and our workforce for their support in helping ensure the viability of our Canadian operations for the long-term.”

The announcement increases the company’s overall investment in Ontario to $6.7 billion ($8.6 billion CAD) when combined with the Stellantis-LG Energy Solution joint venture battery plant, which will create 2,500 new jobs in the province. It also doubles the investment commitment of $1.2 billion ($1.5 billion CAD) made during 2020 contract talks.

The Windsor Assembly Plant will be transformed to support production of a new multi-energy vehicle (MEV) architecture that will provide battery-electric (BEV) capability for multiple models. The plant will have maximum flexibility to adjust production volumes as needed to meet changing market demand over the next decade. Retooling is expected to begin in 2023.

The Brampton Assembly Plant will be retooled and fully modernized, beginning in 2024. When production resumes in 2025, the plant will introduce an all-new, flexible architecture to support the company’s electrification plans.

With this announcement, both Ontario assembly plants are expected to return to three shift operations to support the demand for these new products. The company will announce product allocation at a later date.

The Windsor-based ARDC will expand its talent pool by adding more than 650 highly skilled engineering jobs in various areas to support Stellantis’ growth in electrification. It will expand North American capability related to the transition to EV with a focus on core technology areas: electrified propulsion systems including batteries, power electronics, electric machines, motor controls, energy management, and embedded software.

The ARDC also will become the first battery lab in North America, following the company’s announcement to establish a similar center in Turin, Italy. The Battery Lab will be a state-of-the-art technology center for the development and validation of advanced BEV, PHEV and HEV cells, modules, and battery packs. The new 100,000-square-foot facility will be added to the existing building with completion expected by the end of 2023.