Stellantis Snubs Ottawa: The Jeep Compass Controversy Worsens
The wound opened up by Stellantis’s decision to move production of the Jeep Compass to the U.S. seems to be festering. This after the auto giant failed to appear at a hearing of Canada’s House of Commons looking into the relocation of production of the SUV, originally set for Stellantis’ plant in Brampton, Ontario. The company apologized for its absence and cited computer issues, but federal lawmakers are not accepting a justification they find non-credible.
The hearing was scheduled so that authorities can examine the agreements surrounding the Stellantis plant in Brampton, Ontario, and whether the automaker is complying with them or not. Its decision to move production of the Compass to Illinois is part of a recently announced $3 billion USD investment in the United States, but negates an earlier agreement to assemble the model at Brampton.
A decision that’s rankling lawmakers and auto workers
That decision has triggered anger in Canada, especially in the context of the Trump administration's trade war. The future of the Brampton plant—and thousands of jobs—has been cast into uncertainty, leaving workers and the federal government on edge.
Lawmakers hoped to obtain clear explanations, but the head of public affairs for FCA Canada (a subsidiary of Stellantis) never appeared at any time during the nearly two-hour session.
Parliamentarians denounce
Committee chair Kelly McCauley called the situation “stunning”; Vice-Chair Marie-Hélène Gaudreau stated she was frankly “speechless”. Several lawmakers questioned the IT glitch excuse, pointing out that virtual meetings were commonplace during the pandemic and that in an emergency, it's always possible to connect, even by phone.