Leapmotor may be on track to become the first Chinese automaker to manufacture vehicles on Canadian soil, according to a report from Automotive News. The Chinese EV company is said to be in discussions with Stellantis about producing electric cars at the latter's shuttered assembly plant in Brampton, Ontario.
The AN report describes the negotiations as preliminary, with no firm decisions reached. When Car and Driver reached out, a Stellantis spokesperson neither confirmed nor denied the talks:
"Stellantis remains focused on a strong Canadian footprint and is actively evaluating future programs for Brampton, with the objective to ensure that any investment decision is sustainable and a long-term commitment that supports workers and suppliers," the spokesperson said. "We are in active discussions with government officials and key stakeholders to ensure that the conditions for success are in place to support continued investment in Canada. We have nothing to announce."
The Brampton plant has sat idle since 2023. It had been slated to resume production with a new model this year, but those plans fell apart when the Trump administration unveiled broad tariffs on the auto industry. In response, Stellantis scrapped its plans to build the new Jeep Compass there and shifted the SUV's production to the United States instead.
Stellantis acquired a 20 percent stake in Leapmotor back in 2023, and the following year the two companies established a joint venture called Leapmotor International, aimed specifically at the electric vehicle market. Leapmotor stands apart from many prominent Chinese automakers in that it is not state-owned, although several state-backed entities do hold investment stakes in the company.
Leapmotor currently produces an array of electric and plug-in hybrid models for the Chinese market. Which specific vehicles might be assembled in Ontario — and how quickly the project could progress — remains uncertain, though Leapmotor vehicles on Canadian roads this year appears unlikely.