Stellantis is weighing the export of Chinese-built Jeep electrified models to Canada as its Brampton Assembly Plant remains idle and more than 2,000 Canadian auto workers face an uncertain future.
The company and partner Dongfeng plan to build two Jeep off-road models at a Wuhan facility beginning in 2027, one fully electric and one plug-in hybrid, and Lv Haitao, general manager of Dongfeng Stellantis Automotive Technology, has identified Canada as a potential destination. The United States is not on the list of planned export markets.
Canada’s revised policy for Chinese electric vehicles could open the market. The federal government removed a 100% surtax for an initial annual quota of 49,000 Chinese EVs, which may now enter at a 6.1% tariff. Dongfeng has been preparing for a possible Canadian expansion, the reporting said.
Stellantis has not confirmed a Canadian launch for the new Jeep models. Questions remain about Canadian certification, import eligibility and how imports could affect the company’s domestic manufacturing operations.
The Brampton Assembly Plant has been idle since 2023. Earlier reporting suggested Stellantis might build Chinese Leapmotor vehicles at the Ontario plant. Instead, Stellantis signed a memorandum of understanding with Canadian armoured vehicle manufacturer Roshel in September about a potential sale of the facility.
Unifor President Lana Payne described the prospect of importing Chinese-built Jeeps as "entirely unacceptable and out of touch." The union held strike authorization votes on October 17 and 18, with results expected shortly, the reporting said.
AutoNation Board Addition
AutoNation has added Mark Stewart, chief executive and president of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, to its board of directors as an independent director.
Stewart became Goodyear’s top executive in January 2024 and previously served as Stellantis’s North American chief operating officer. His resume also includes time as vice president of customer fulfillment at Amazon and senior roles at ZF TRW Automotive, TRW and Tower Automotive.
AutoNation board chairman Rick Burdick said in a news release that "Mark is a proven global leader with deep experience across the automotive, manufacturing, technology, and consumer sectors." Burdick added that Stewart’s strategic perspective and operational discipline will strengthen the board as AutoNation advances its strategy and seeks long-term shareholder value.
