DETROIT — General Motors is set to scale back production of its electric BrightDrop delivery vans at a facility in Canada, leading to a temporary halt in operations that will extend through much of the year.
The CAMI assembly plant in Ontario will shift from two shifts to a single shift, resulting in the loss of approximately 500 jobs. Operations will be suspended starting next month for around 20 weeks, concluding in October. Additionally, the assembly of battery packs will be interrupted during the weeks of April 24 and April 28 as the plant prepares for the extended shutdown.
On Friday, the automaker confirmed the adjustments at the Ontario facility, clarifying that these measures are not connected to the tariffs imposed during Donald Trump’s administration.
“This adjustment is directly related to responding to market demand and re-balancing inventory. Production of BrightDrop and EV battery assembly will remain at CAMI,” GM stated in an email.
Lana Payne, president of the Canadian union Unifor, which represents the plant’s workforce, characterized the decision as a “crushing blow to hundreds of working families in Ingersoll and the surrounding region who depend on this plant.”
“General Motors must do everything in its power to mitigate job loss during this downturn, and all levels of government must step up to support Canadian auto workers and Canadian-made products,” Payne expressed in a statement.
BrightDrop was established as a wholly owned subsidiary by GM in 2021 but was integrated into GM’s fleet business in 2023 and subsequently included in the Chevrolet brand offerings in 2024.
GM initially envisioned BrightDrop as a significant growth opportunity, aiming to tap into a new lucrative market. However, sales and revenue projections have fallen short of early expectations.
BrightDrop was anticipated to generate $1 billion in revenue during 2023, yet GM has refrained from disclosing specific revenue figures, casting doubt on whether this target was met. The company sold only about 2,000 electric vans during 2023 and 2024, based on its sales data.
The plans to idle the facility emerge following a report indicating that numerous BrightDrop vehicles were parked in a storage lot in Flint, Michigan.
While Unifor expressed that GM “has indicated it remains committed to the CAMI facility, with upgrades for the 2026 model year,” the union warned that the immediate outlook is uncertain without enhanced domestic support and equitable market access, referring to the impact of previous tariffs.
“The reality is the U.S. is creating industry turmoil. Trump’s short-sighted tariffs and rejection of EV technology is disrupting investment and freezing future order projections,” Payne remarked. “This is creating an opening for China and other foreign automakers to dominate the global EV market while the North American industry risks falling behind.”
