by Key News Points
Electric Van Production Shutdown
General Motors has definitively ceased production of its slow-selling BrightDrop vans. The models were manufactured at the CAMI Assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, and the company stated that “the commercial electric van market has developed significantly slower than expected.”
The automaker began van production in late 2022, but the launch was chaotic, as BrightDrop was a separate brand and had a very limited dealer network.
The BrightDrop vans were subsequently integrated into the Chevrolet brand last year, which promised to significantly expand sales beyond seven locations in the United States.
Sales Challenges and Production Cessation
Things didn’t work out, and unsold vehicles began to accumulate. GM recently disposed of 59 vans by donating them to the American Red Cross, but this was just a drop in the bucket, and the company suspended production earlier this year.
Production was initially supposed to resume in May before stopping again for retooling for the 2026 model year. Although production did briefly resume in May, BrightDrop is now dead, and there will be no 2026 models.
Reasons for Project Closure
GM blamed this decision on a number of factors, including slow sales, changing regulatory environment, and the cancellation of tax incentives in the United States.
They added that the closure was part of “broader adjustments” being made to electric vehicle production capacity in North America.
Impact on Workers
Workers are taking the hit for GM’s failed electric vehicle bet. In this case, the company stated that “hourly workers will receive six months of pay and potential lump-sum payments and other benefits.” Additionally, the CAMI Assembly plant will be “evaluated for future opportunities.”
Unifor Union Reaction
The Unifor union was outraged and claimed that the decision resulted from the “dangerous and destabilizing automotive policy” of the Trump administration. Of course, this obscures the fact that sales have been terrible for many years.
Unifor National President Lana Payne stated: “The reality is that CAMI got hit from both sides by Trump as he aggressively acted to cancel EV support and impose a 25% tariff on Canadian auto plants. Now over 1,000 workers and their families are paying the price for Trump’s political interference and GM’s failure to hold its ground.”
Other union representatives stated that GM “abandoned” its employees who “deserve a future at CAMI – not a dead end.” The anger is further fueled by the decision to cancel a shift at the Oshawa Assembly plant in January, “heightening concerns about GM’s long-term production potential in Canada.”
Next Steps and Negotiations
In light of these events, Unifor stated it would meet with GM and the Canadian government to immediately “demand a new product mandate and guarantee that CAMI remains a cornerstone of Canadian automotive manufacturing.”
GM Canada President Christian Aquilina said: “The decision to cease production of the BrightDrop electric van is driven by market demand and in no way reflects the dedication and craftsmanship of our workforce at CAMI.” He added: “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 governments of Canada and Ontario as we evaluate next steps for CAMI’s future.”
This situation illustrates the complex challenges facing traditional automakers during the transition to electric vehicles, where optimistic forecasts often collide with market reality. Businesses making large investments in electrification face the need to balance long-term strategic goals with short-term financial performance, especially when market demand doesn’t meet expectations. The fate of the CAMI plant now becomes a symbol of larger structural changes in the automotive industry, where production decisions increasingly depend on global market trends and regulatory environments.
