GM Ends Production of the BrightDrop Delivery Van, Leaving Ontario Plant Empty

Workers at General Motors’ (GM) Ingersoll, Ont., plant won’t be returning to work in November. The automaker has decided to end production of the vehicles they assemble there, the all-electric BrightDrop delivery vans.

The CAMI Assembly plant in Ingersoll has been idle since May, but GM initially planned to restart production of the van this month, later pushing that date back to November. Now, GM Canada President Kristian Aquilina has said that the automaker overestimated the rate at which electric delivery vans would catch on, and failed to predict the changing political landscape.

GM cited both the tariffs imposed on Canadian-built vehicles entering the United States, and the White House's recent decision to end federal incentives for electric vehicles (EVs) as factors contributing to the discontinuation of the BrightDrop vehicles.

“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 Aquilina. “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.”

Unfortunately, GM has not revealed precisely what the future holds for the plant, but has said that it will work with Unifor, the union representing Canadian autoworkers, to follow provisions in workers’ collective agreement. That will include paying its workforce six months of salary. The automaker has also said that it will work with the governments of Canada and Ontario to discuss future opportunities for the plant, whose ongoing existence has been helped siginificantly by government investments.

This is just the latest blow to Canada’s auto sector, which has been targeted by the White House. Last week, GM’s competitors, Stellantis, announced that it no longer planned to assemble the Jeep Compass at its Brampton plant, and would instead move it to Illinois as part of a major investment in its U.S. workforce. That has prompted the threat of lawsuits from the Canadian government.

Aquilina appears to be sensitive to this trend, and was careful to reiterate GM’s commitment to Canadian production.

“Our Canadian operations continue to be a critical part of GM and our North America business,” said Aquilina. “For more than 100 years, GM has been designing, engineering and building vehicles in Canada and we intend to keep doing so.”