General Motors (GM) will idle its BrightDrop electric delivery van plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, for roughly five months starting in May and eliminate 500 jobs as it reduces output to match slowing demand, the company confirmed Friday, April 11.
The CAMI Assembly plant will drop from two shifts to one when production resumes in October. In preparation for the extended shutdown, battery pack assembly will halt the weeks of April 21 and April 28. After the pause, GM said BrightDrop production and EV battery assembly will continue at the site.
According to GM, the decision is unrelated to President Donald Trump’s tariffs. “This adjustment is directly related to responding to market demand and re-balancing inventory,” the automaker said in an emailed statement.
In 2021, GM launched BrightDrop as a standalone commercial EV brand, but due to underwhelming performance, it integrated BrightDrop into its Chevrolet portfolio in 2024. GM initially projected $1 billion in BrightDrop revenue for 2023 but fell short, selling only around 2,000 vans over two years.
The company has paused production after reports revealed that a Michigan facility is stockpiling hundreds of unsold BrightDrop vehicles, raising concerns about the long-term demand for this product line.
Unifor, the union representing workers at CAMI, called the move a “crushing blow” to families in Ingersoll and nearby communities. Union President Lana Payne urged GM and government officials to step in to protect Canadian auto jobs and manufacturing.
According to Payne, the situation in the U.S. is causing instability in the industry due to Trump’s skepticism toward electric vehicles and the implementation of trade barriers. This environment is allowing China and other international automakers to take the lead in the global electric vehicle market.
Ultimately, GM said it remains committed to the CAMI facility, which received significant upgrades to support BrightDrop production and is expected to receive further investment ahead of the 2026 model year. Still, the immediate outlook for the plant remains uncertain.
