General Motors has confirmed it is ending production of its BrightDrop electric delivery vans at the CAMI Assembly plant in Ingersoll, leaving the future of the southwestern Ontario facility uncertain.
Production at the plant was paused in May when GM cited slowing demand in the commercial EV market. The company said today’s decision will not see BrightDrop vehicles made elsewhere, marking an end to the line that was pegged to be a cornerstone of Ontario’s electric-vehicle ambitions.
“The decision to end production of the BrightDrop electric delivery van is driven by market demand and in no way reflects the commitment and skill of our workforce at CAMI,” said Kristian Aquilina, GM Canada’s president and managing director, in a statement.
GM said hourly employees will receive six months’ salary along with possible lump-sum payments and other benefits, in line with provisions of the collective agreement with Unifor. The company will work with the union and both levels of government to “evaluate next steps for the future of CAMI.”
BrightDrop’s launch in 2021 was billed as a significant step in GM’s push toward an all-electric future. But the company said the commercial EV sector has developed much more slowly than expected, citing weaker demand, regulatory changes and the loss of U.S. tax credits for electric delivery vehicles.
The Ingersoll plant had been operating below capacity since production began in late 2022, following a $1-billion retooling investment supported by the federal and provincial governments.
Uncertain future for CAMI workers
CAMI Assembly, which employs about 1,200 people, has been a significant economic driver for the Ingersoll region since opening in 1989. GM said it remains committed to finding “meaningful opportunities” for the site, though it has not specified what products could be built there next.
Unifor Local 88, which represents CAMI workers, has not yet responded to CBC News about the announcement.
GM emphasized that Canada remains central to its North American operations, highlighting ongoing production in Oshawa and St. Catharines, as well as a new $600-million battery-materials facility under construction in Bécancour, Que.
Another blow to Ontario’s auto industry
GM’s announcement comes a week after Stellantis announced it will invest $13 billion US over the next four years to expand its manufacturing capacity in the U.S. This move will take production of the Jeep Compass out of Ontario and raise concerns about Canadian jobs.
Stellantis said production of the Compass, which was previously slated to be made at the Brampton Assembly Plant, will move to the Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois. Stellantis said its new investments will increase its U.S. vehicle production by 50 per cent and add more than 5,000 jobs.
The Brampton plant has been shut down since early 2024 for retooling to build the next generation model of the vehicle, but that work was halted in February as a tariff threat loomed.
Following the Stellantis announcement, Unifor national president Lana Payne said, “Auto jobs are being sacrificed on the Trump altar” and called on the government to take action to protect the jobs.
“Stellantis cannot be allowed to renege on its commitments to Canadian workers, and governments cannot stand by while our jobs are shifted to the United States,” she said.
Both the federal and Ontario governments are expected to face pressure to help secure a new mandate for the CAMI Assembly plant, similar to previous support for EV and battery projects elsewhere in Ontario.
