In addition to the 49,000 electric vehicles that can be imported annually from China to Canada without the 100% tariff, some could be manufactured right here in Canada.

According to reports by Bloomberg and Automotive News, Stellantis has entered preliminary talks with Leapmotor (which it partly owns) to make Chinese electric vehicles at its factory in Brampton, Ontario.

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Employing around 3,000 unionized workers, the plant is currently on idle, having no products to build—now or in the immediate future. The next-generation Jeep Compass that was initially planned for Brampton will instead go to a factory south of the border following Stellantis’ $13 billion USD investment to avoid tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. Ottawa is seeking reimbursement for the financial aid it previously gave to the automaker.

Photo: Stellantis

In a statement sent to the media outlets above, a Stellantis spokesperson insisted that all options are still on the table to revive the site. The company is actively discussing with the government and key stakeholders to create the winning conditions for sustainable investments in Brampton.

This could be the first Chinese car manufacturing plant in Canada, specifically serving our market and perhaps also Mexico. However, the U.S. wants nothing to do with letting them in (Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno called Chinese cars a “cancer” this week), and in January, Trump threatened 100% tariffs on Canadian goods if our country and China became allies in the automotive sector.

Photo: Leapmotor
What is Leapmotor?

One of China’s fastest-growing automotive brands, Leapmotor has just sold over 100,000 vehicles for the fourth consecutive quarter. Stellantis has held a 20% stake since 2023, and the two have formed a joint venture to produce and sell vehicles in several markets worldwide.

Leapmotor has an advantage over many competitors by manufacturing most of its components and hardware in-house and relying less on suppliers.

The T03 city car wouldn’t be particularly attractive to Canadian drivers due to its limited power (95 hp) and range (around 300 km), but the B10 and C10 crossovers are different. Both offer fully electric and range-extending variants. The B10 starts at €28,400 in France, which is equivalent to $46,500 CAD.

Photo: Leapmotor