General Motors is cutting production of its all-electric BrightDrop delivery vans at a plant in Ontario, Canada, and will idle the facility through much of 2025. The decision comes as part of an effort to re-balance inventory and respond to market demand.
The CAMI assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, will be reduced from two shifts to one, eliminating 500 jobs. This change is not related to President Donald Trump’s tariffs, according to the company. GM plans to maintain production of BrightDrop vehicles and EV battery assembly at the plant.
Unifor, the union representing workers at the plant, has expressed concerns about the impact on hundreds of families in the region who depend on the facility. The union is calling for government support to mitigate job losses during this downturn.
GM launched BrightDrop as a subsidiary in 2021 but has faced lower-than-expected sales and revenue. The company sold only around 2,000 electric vans between 2023 and 2024. The decision comes weeks after a report revealed hundreds of BrightDrop vehicles were stored in Michigan due to market conditions.
The idling of the plant is attributed to the lack of stronger domestic support and fair market access, according to Unifor. The union warns that the US tariffs and rejection of EV technology are disrupting investment and freezing future order projections, creating an opportunity for foreign automakers to dominate the global EV market.
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/11/gm-cutting-jobs-idle-canada-electric-van-plant.html