Stellantis auto plant sale draws optimism, hurt in Brampton, Ont., after 2,000 jobs lost

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Workers and local politicians are expressing disappointment at Stellantis's decision to sell its Brampton, Ont., plant to armoured vehicle maker Roshel Inc., but some local businesses and experts say the new company could bring more jobs and foot traffic to the community.

For three years, Shelly Lewis has been trying to increase foot traffic at her restaurant after it dwindled following the 2023 closure of the Stellantis auto plant in Brampton, Ont.

Shelly's Kitchen on Chrysler Drive is among the many food shops that relied on business from thousands of Stellantis workers, but Lewis said she's had to lay off a staff member and admits she has struggled to pay bills some months.

"The Stellantis plant made business for me because I had staff at all hours come in and I had lots of specials," she said. "I'm so sad that they shut down operations."

Now, however, she's hopeful that news the automater is expected to have a new owner will result in more customers at her eatery and rejuvenate the area.

On Monday, it was announced that Canadian armoured ⁠vehicle maker Roshel Inc. will buy the auto plant, acquiring the idled facility and equipment from Stellantis for an undisclosed amount.

That appears to be positive news, as more than 2,000 workers were laid off when operations were halted in in 2023 to retool the plant for Jeep production, a plan that was paused in early 2025.

Baltej Bajwa, among the over 2,000 workers laid off from Brampton's Stellantis facility, says it's great that Roshel is offering jobs to workers in the city, but fears there will be lots of uncertainty for colleagues. (CBC)

But Baltej Bajwa, one of the laid-off workers who's been left in limbo since the plant's closure, remains uncertain of his future and said he was shocked to hear about the sale.

"Any hope that we had of potentially coming back when we heard the news kind of just got shattered," Bajwa said.

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