General Motors (GM) is temporarily suspending production of its Chevrolet BrightDrop electric vans at the CAMI Assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, due to slow sales.
The shutdown is expected to begin on April 14 and will continue until October 2025. GM emphasized that the pause is not related to recent auto tariffs but is instead driven by the need to align production with current market demand, Reuters news report said.
Mass Layoffs Announced
As a result of the production halt, GM will temporarily lay off approximately 1,200 workers, according to Unifor, the union representing employees at the facility. While some workers will return for limited production in May, the plant will not fully resume operations until October 2025. When it does restart, operations will run on a single shift, leading to the indefinite layoff of around 500 workers.
Plant Retooling for 2026 Model
During the production downtime, GM plans to retool the CAMI plant in preparation for manufacturing the 2026 model year BrightDrop vans. The company stated it remains committed to both the BrightDrop brand and the CAMI facility, adding that it will support workers during this transition period.
Union Condemns Job Losses
Unifor National President Lana Payne described the news as “a crushing blow” for hundreds of working families in the Ingersoll region. She urged GM to minimize the job losses and called on all levels of government to step in to support Canadian auto workers and the domestic auto industry.
Political Reactions Across Canada
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney responded to the news by calling the layoffs “deeply painful,” and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to defending Canada’s auto sector and its workers. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre also weighed in, pledging to fight for Canadian auto jobs and criticizing tariffs, while promising that a Conservative government would work toward a fair deal that protects both Canadian sovereignty and the economy.
Low Sales Drive the Decision
GM reported that it sold only 274 BrightDrop vans in the first quarter of the year, a modest increase from 256 in the same quarter of 2024. This slow uptake in demand has been a key factor behind the decision to halt production and adjust operations.
Reuters news report earlier indicated that General Motors would be laying off workers at its all-electric Factory Zero plant in Detroit where it is adjusting production “to align with market dynamics. About 200 workers at the plant will be temporarily laid off, according to a company source.
Factory Zero is home to the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV, Hummer EV SUV and pickup and all-electric Escalade IQ. Factory Zero has about 4,500 employees.
GreentechLead.com News Desk