On the eve of Ontario’s June 2 election call, Chrysler and Dodge factories in Brampton and Windsor are getting a $1-billion infusion from the federal and provincial governments to build the next generation of hybrid and electric vehicles.
The money for the automakers’ parent company, Stellantis, goes toward flexible vehicle assembly lines as the 3,000-employee Brampton plant was preparing to lose production of muscle cars like the V-8 Dodge Challenger to a factory in Illinois, where new electric versions will be made.
“I wanted a solution for Brampton and we got one,” highlighted Francois-Philippe Champagne, the federal minister of science, innovation and technology, told the Star in an interview Monday.
The flexible lines means the Windsor and Brampton plants will be able to build traditional, hybrid and electric vehicles at the same time, with electric vehicles (EVs) expected to make up a growing proportion in the coming years. The move is expected to save thousands of jobs in the shift away from internal combustion engines to fight climate change.
Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives hope the announcement — which comes just weeks after plans for a new $5-billion Stellantis EV battery plant were unveiled — will help them gain support in three NDP-held ridings in Windsor and three more in Brampton.
Ford touted the latest investment as “delivering huge wins for workers and communities all over this province” at auto parts factories that will continue feeding the massive assembly plants, along with mineral resources in the northwestern Ontario “Ring of Fire” zone needed to make EVs batteries.
“Ontario has everything it needs to be North America’s auto manufacturing powerhouse once again,” the premier said in a statement. “We are getting it done and ensuring that the cars of the future are made in Ontario by Ontario workers.”
Champagne that the timing of the announcement so close to Wednesday’s official provincial election call is coincidence.
“It’s not about politics,” he told the Star from Windsor, where Chrysler and Dodge minivans are produced. “It’s about workers. When you can land one of these deals, you do it.”
Stellantis is investing $3.4 billion into the retooling of the two factories and in related research and development facilities, with the federal government contributing up to $529 million and Ontario $513 million.
Opposition parties said Ford has had a sudden, pre-election conversion to the merits of EVs after canceling customer purchase subsidies for them and removing some charging stations after taking power in 2018.
Ontario Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca said he welcomes the Stellantis investment and help from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government because there has been “no meaningful growth in manufacturing jobs” under Ford.
“The prime minister is governing, Doug Ford is campaigning,” said Del Duca, who is hoping to lead his Liberals to a comeback after they lost official party status in Ford’s 2018 sweep — which also cost Del Duca his own seat in Vaughan-Woodbridge .
Andrea Horwath’s New Democrats also welcomed the Stellantis investment while taking shots at the PC government.
“The Ford Conservatives broke promise after promise to reduce pollution, ripped up electric vehicle charging stations and axed electric vehicle purchase incentives instead of ensuring that all Ontarians, not just the rich, can afford an electric vehicle,” the party said in a statement.
In recent months, the provincial government has announced more charging stations, such as at ONroute service centers along Highway 401.
Ford has repeatedly refused to reintroduce EV purchase incentives. The NDP said it would offer incentives of up to $10,000 to customers buying non-luxury EVs. The Liberals and Greens are also promising subsidies.
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