by GM shut down Brightdrop van production in Ontario last year. Dumarey Group may buy the plant and restart van production. The vans could be exported to Europe if the deal proceeds.
New Hope for BrightDrop
GM’s BrightDrop electric vans may not have reached their end yet. After nearly four months of uncertainty, an unexpected opportunity to rescue the project has emerged. GM previously announced the discontinuation of production of these vans at its plant in Ontario, Canada, effectively shutting down one of its most iconic electric vehicle projects. Now, a European engineering company is reportedly showing interest in purchasing this production facility and restarting production.
Who is Behind the Initiative
This involves the Dumarey Group, a Belgian engineering and manufacturing company. In 2020, Dumarey acquired GM’s powertrain engineering center in Turin, Italy, and now appears ready to deepen its relationship with the American automaker. According to recent reports, the group intends to produce BrightDrop vans in Canada and then supply them across the Atlantic to European markets.
Prospects for the Plant Workers
This deal could be excellent news for the plant workers, many of whom faced an uncertain future after GM’s production halt announcement. However, a significant number of laid-off employees remain on GM’s recall list in case production of a new vehicle resumes at the CAMI facility. This means Dumarey will likely have to negotiate with GM regarding the return of these workers.
Brendan Sweeney, managing director of a non-profit agency from London, commented to CTV News that Dumarey might be well-suited for this. However, he suggests the company may only need a few hundred workers to organize production, meaning the plant is unlikely to return to its former workforce of 3,000 employed during the production of the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain.
“They are diversified,” Sweeney said about the Dumarey Group. “They work with a range of different technologies, including fuel cells, which is a very interesting solution for Canada that could gain more traction.”
Production History and Challenges
The CAMI assembly plant began production of BrightDrop electric vans in 2022. Despite GM’s hopes, the program failed to maintain its initial momentum. Even after BrightDrop was integrated into the Chevrolet brand to boost recognition and sales, the vans failed to gain a foothold in the electric commercial delivery vehicle market.
Details of the potential deal are still limited, but according to sources, the company’s CEO and founder, Guido Dumarey, plans to visit the plant in Ingersoll soon to assess the situation. This visit could be a key step in reviving production. The success of the deal will depend on many factors, including negotiation terms with GM, opportunities to enter the European market, and the overall dynamics of demand for electric commercial vehicles. The BrightDrop situation illustrates the broader challenges traditional automakers face when launching new electric vehicle brands, especially in niche segments where speed of adaptation and flexibility of business models often prove decisive.
