The Financial Post reports in its Wednesday edition that Chinese carmaker BYD has inquired about taking over an idled Stellantis NV plant in Brampton, Ont., according to the mayor, signalling possible global interest in Canadian auto hubs in the midst of a trade battle with the United States. A Bloomberg dispatch to the Post quotes Mayor Patrick Brown saying that BYD approached him about six months ago to talk about making buses at the factory. Stellantis had been retooling the plant to manufacture the Jeep Compass, but halted that plan last year when the U.S. adopted tariffs on foreign autos. Mr. Brown said he also received inquiries from Leapmotor International, a joint venture between Zhejiang Leapmotor and Stellantis, as well as from an Italian automaker. Stellantis had been discussing options for building electric vehicles in Canada with Leapmotor. Most vehicles Canada produces are exported to the U.S., but the trade war and lack of a new product for the 40-year-old factory have clouded the future for thousands of people who work there. Unifor said Stellantis is considering selling the plant. Mr. Brown admits he has "a pretty bleak prognosis" for reopening. The plant hasn't produced vehicles since late 2023.