Prime Minister Mark Carney says the global head of Stellantis told him the automaker is looking at finding a new model to fill the idled Brampton, Ont., plant, but that a decision won’t be coming quickly.

Speaking to reporters in Toronto, Carney said Stellantis told him that a decision on producing a vehicle in Brampton would be dependent on the finalization of a renewed free trade deal with the United States.

Stellantis announced Tuesday it will invest $13 billion US over the next four years to expand its manufacturing capacity in the U.S. It said the new investments will increase its U.S. vehicle production by 50 per cent and add more than 5,000 jobs.

The company, formerly called Chrysler, said the Jeep Compass, previously slated to be made at the Brampton Assembly Plant, will move to the Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois.

The Brampton, Ont., plant has been shut down since early 2024 for retooling to build the next generation model of the vehicle, but that work was halted in February as U.S. President Donald Trump rolled out tariffs aimed at bringing more production into the United States.

Carney says he expressed “disappointment” with Stellantis over its decision to move the long-planned Jeep production from Ontario.

On Wednesday, Industry Minister Melanie Joly expressed her “extreme concern” about the move in a letter to the company, where she threatened legal action if it doesn’t meet commitments it made to federal government for funding.

WATCH | Brampton mayor speaks out about impacts of Stellantis’ decision:

Stellantis moving production to U.S. ‘punch to the gut’: mayor of Brampton, Ont.

Mayor Patrick Brown says retaliatory tariffs need to be back on the table after automaker Stellantis announced plans to move Jeep production slated for the plant in Brampton, Ont., to south of the border.

Carney said Thursday that there are potential consequences for the company if it doesn’t meet its obligations, ones that include keeping the Brampton plant.

“There is exposure of the company if they were not to follow through with those commitments for Brampton, restarting Brampton,” said Carney. “I reminded the global CEO of those undertakings.”

This Sunday, Cross Country Checkup is asking: How is the trade war affecting your livelihood? Are you worried about your job security? Fill out this form and you could appear on the show or have your comment read on air.

Carney said that along with assurances that the company is looking at another model being produced in Brampton, the CEO told him support would be provided for workers.

“We’re working with [Stellantis], working with UNIFOR, working with the province to ensure that those workers for Brampton have more than just the opportunity to … move to the additional shift that is being put on at Stellantis’ other facility,” he said. “But also that they have comparable support to what they receive at present.”

Carney said 1,500 new jobs are expected on the third shift at the Windsor Stellantis facility.

WATCH | Union for Windsor Stellantis facility is concerned about jobs there:

Local union head believes Stellantis jobs in Windsor are safe, but remains concerned

Stellantis announced on Tuesday production of their Jeep Compass model will move from Brampton to Illinois.

In a statement to CBC News Wednesday, Stellantis Canada spokesperson LouAnn Gosselin said the company still plans to follow through on its commitment to add a third shift to its Windsor assembly plant.

The third shift is meant to accommodate increased demand for all models of the Chrysler Pacifica, and production of the Dodge Charger Scat Pack and R/T models.

Premier Doug Ford said Wednesday he will push Stellantis to keep the company’s assembly plant in Brampton, Ont., open and live up to its promise to workers after the automaker announced plans to move Jeep production slated for the plant to the United States.

At an unrelated news conference Wednesday, Ford said he was disappointed by the decision after receiving assurances from Stellantis Canada president Jeff Hines that the company planned to keep the Brampton plant open.

WATCH | Ford says he will fight to keep the Brampton plant open:

Ford vows to ‘keep pushing’ against Stellantis’s plans to shift production from Brampton to U.S.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, speaking at an unrelated event in northern Ontario on Wednesday, said he will backtrack on provincial funding promised for Stellantis after the automaker announced plans to shift Jeep production slated for Brampton to the United States.