Stellantis reportedly in talks with Leapmotor (零跑) over idled Brampton EV plant

It has been reported that Stellantis is holding preliminary talks with Chinese electric vehicle maker Leapmotor (零跑) about a potential project to use the automaker’s idled Brampton, Ontario, assembly plant for EV production. The discussions are reportedly in early stages and no decision has been made. The Brampton facility had been slated to build a new Jeep SUV before Stellantis canceled those plans and idled the line, leaving jobs and capacity in limbo.

Details of the proposal and the players

Leapmotor is one of China’s fast-growing EV startups, known for competitive pricing and rapid expansion into overseas markets. For Stellantis, the move would offer a way to repurpose existing North American capacity as the group pivots toward electric vehicles. For Leapmotor, a deal would accelerate entry into the critical Canadian and wider North American market. It has been reported that both sides are exploring a range of structures, from contract manufacturing to joint ventures, but nothing has been finalized.

Why this matters — politics, jobs and supply chains

Would Canada allow a Chinese EV maker into a major domestic assembly site? That question will matter to Ottawa. Foreign takeovers of strategic manufacturing assets are subject to review under Canada’s Investment Canada Act, and such a tie-up could attract scrutiny from U.S. and allied policymakers given broader concerns over supply chains, technology transfer and national security amid rising geopolitical tensions. For Brampton’s workforce and the local auto ecosystem, the difference between a reopened plant and continued idling is substantial.

Neither Stellantis nor Leapmotor has confirmed terms, and it has been reported that talks remain exploratory. Still, the potential deal underscores two wider trends: legacy automakers seeking partners to accelerate electrification, and Chinese EV firms pushing overseas to secure market access and production footprints in the West.