Is Jeep Still Planning a New Compass?
Stellantis has temporarily shut down all operations at its Brampton, Ontario assembly facility, casting doubt on the timeline for the next-generation Jeep Compass, which was initially slated for production next year.
Key Points
- Production at the Brampton, Ontario facility has been paused indefinitely as the company reassesses plans for a battery-electric Jeep Compass.
- Jeep may introduce gasoline or hybrid-electric versions of the next-gen Compass first, delaying the all-electric model for North America.
- Despite the production pause, Stellantis says its previously announced investment in the Brampton plant remains unchanged.
According to Automotive News, the automaker is reevaluating whether launching a battery-electric Compass is the right strategy for the North American market.
The Brampton plant has been idle since production ended for the Dodge Charger, Challenger, and Chrysler 300 over a year ago. Although Stellantis’ official site lists the facility as undergoing retooling until 2025, a company source revealed that pre-production of the new Compass was initially planned for January 2025 but was delayed to May.
That timeline is now indefinitely on hold.
Despite the pause, Stellantis maintains that the halt won’t affect its previously announced investment plans for the plant, suggesting that production of the next-gen Compass will eventually move forward. For now, European markets will still see the next-generation Compass in 2025—but it will be built at the Melfi plant in Italy.
The decision to pause Brampton’s retooling points to a possible shift in Jeep’s launch strategy. Rather than debuting a fully electric Compass first, Stellantis may prioritize gasoline or hybrid versions, aligning with Ram’s recent move to delay its all-electric pickup in favor of a range-extended hybrid variant. Since the next Compass will utilize Stellantis’ new STLA Medium platform, adjusting the release order for different powertrains would be relatively seamless.
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An experienced automotive storyteller and accomplished photographer known for engaging and insightful content. Michael also brings a wealth of technical knowledge—he was part of the Ford GT program at Multimatic, oversaw a fleet of Audi TCR race cars, ziptied Lamborghini Super Trofeo cars back together, been over the wall during the Rolex 24, and worked in the intense world of IndyCar.
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