GM Ending Production of Electric Van at CAMI Plant in Ontario

The GM CAMI assembly factory is shown in Ingersoll, Ont., on Sept. 18, 2017. The Canadian Press/Dave Chidley

General Motors (GM) is ending production of its BrightDrop electric delivery van at the CAMI plant in Ingersoll, Ont., citing insufficient demand for the vehicle.

An Oct. 21 statement from the company said it has no plans to move production to another location, noting that the commercial electric delivery van market “developed much slower than expected.”

The auto manufacturer said that the CAMI plant had been “operating below capacity,” leading the company to a pause production in May. Approximately 1,200 unionized workers were laid off  as a result, but the plant was expected to restart operations in November ,with half of the employees heading back to work. The Oct. 21 announcement indicates that will no longer happen.

GM said the decision to end production of the vehicle was part of “broader adjustments” the company is making to its EV production in North America.

GM Canada president and managing director Kristian Aquilina said the decision “in no way reflects the commitment and skill of our workforce at CAMI.”

“This continues to be an uncertain time for our workforce at CAMI, and we are committed to working closely with our employees, Unifor and the Canadian and Ontario governments as we evaluate next steps for the future of CAMI,” he said in the statement.

The company said it will provide employees with six months’ salary, with the potential for lump sum payments and other benefits. GM also said it would work with Unifor to “follow the provisions of the collective agreement.”

“Our Canadian operations continue to be a critical part of GM and our North America business,” Aquilina said, noting that company employs thousands of Canadians across its facilities.

Unifor said the announcement impacts more than 1,000 of its members who were on layoff since the plant suspended operations in May.

Industry Minister Mélanie Joly told reporters on Oct. 21 she had spoken with the local Unifor leader and Ontario Premier Doug Ford about GM’s decision. She said they had agreed to try to push for new production at the Ingersoll plant. 

“We are creating a response group to make sure that we’re bringing a new model, because the 1,200 workers at the Ingersoll plant need to know that we’re fighting for their jobs,” she said before heading into a cabinet meeting. 

GM opened the CAMI plant for EV production in 2023. It was considered the first full-scale EV manufacturing plant in Canada.

Stellantis

GM’s decision comes less than a week after Stellantis announced it was moving production of its Jeep Compass from its Brampton, Ont., plant to Belvidere, Illinois.

Stellantis said its plan to move production from Brampton to Illinois was part of a US$13 billion investment the company is making into its manufacturing operations south of the border. It will impact an estimated 3,000 jobs in Ontario.

U.S. tariffs imposed earlier this year included 25 percent tariffs on vehicles and auto parts. U.S. President Donald Trump has also said a 25 percent tariff will be imposed on all medium and heavy-duty trucks entering his country starting in November.

Stellantis had shut down its operations at the Brampton plant in 2024 to prepare to build the next generation of Jeep Compass. That work was paused in February, after the U.S. announced tariffs. The Compass had been scheduled to go into production at the plant later this year.

Minister Joly accused Stellantis of reneging on its commitments to the federal and provincial government in an Oct. 15 letter sent to CEO Antonia Filosa. Joly said the company had committed to maintaining a Canadian footprint in exchange for financial subsidies.

Joly said if Stellantis chooses not to follow the agreement, the federal government would “act in the interest of all Canadians,” and “exercise all options, including legal.”

Jennifer Cowan, Matthew Horwood, and The Canadian Press contributed to this article.