Auto Giant Ends Canadian Jeep Production, Brings Jobs Back to America
Stellantis is pulling Jeep Compass production out of Canada and shifting operations to the United States, as the auto giant retools its long-term strategy to align with President Donald Trump’s trade and tariff agenda.
The company had originally planned to build the next-gen Compass at its Brampton Assembly Plant in Ontario. But that plan has been scrapped. Production will now move to a reopened facility in Belvidere, Illinois, as part of a record-breaking $13 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing.
“The investment is the largest in the company’s 100-year U.S. history,” Stellantis said in a statement. The move is expected to create over 5,000 jobs across Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. It also includes plans to launch five new vehicles and a brand-new four-cylinder engine for the U.S. market.
Stellantis’ pivot comes after President Trump’s 25% tariff on imported automobiles and parts went into effect earlier this year — a cornerstone of his “America First” economic policy. That tariff has put pressure on automakers operating abroad and has already triggered a wave of U.S.-focused restructuring.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called the Stellantis decision a “direct consequence” of Trump’s tariffs and hinted that more companies may follow. He met with Trump in Washington last week in an effort to protect Canadian industry, but so far, the tariffs remain.
Unifor, the Canadian auto union representing Stellantis workers, lashed out at the move, accusing the company of “sacrificing” Canadian jobs. “Stellantis cannot be allowed to renege on its commitments to Canadian workers,” said Unifor President Lana Payne.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford also voiced his frustration. “This decision is especially painful for those workers who have been out of jobs for months,” he posted to X after speaking directly with Stellantis leadership.
The Brampton plant had already been idle since 2024, when Stellantis paused plans to convert the facility for electric vehicle production. That delay, according to the company, was also influenced by Trump’s new tariffs and trade posture.
Stellantis isn’t the only auto manufacturer shifting gears. Earlier this year, General Motors cut production in Ontario and doubled down on its Fort Wayne, Indiana plant. Executives at both companies have cited Trump’s tariffs as a primary driver in their decisions.
For the Trump administration, this is exactly the outcome they envisioned — companies moving jobs and production back onto American soil. For Canadian workers, though, it’s the latest blow in a rapidly changing trade war.