General Motors (GM) Canada to halt production at its CAMI EV plant in Ingersoll temporarily, Ontario, and reduce staff in response to weaker-than-expected demand for its electric delivery vehicles. The company stated that while it remains committed to the facility, operational and employment adjustments are necessary to align production with market conditions.
“Today, GM Canada confirmed CAMI is making operational and employment adjustments to balance inventory and align production schedules with current demand,” a company spokesperson told Global News. Production of the BrightDrop electric delivery vehicle and EV battery assembly will continue, albeit on a reduced scale.
Unifor, the union representing CAMI workers, described the development as ‘devastating’ and called on both GM and government bodies to support affected workers. According to Unifor, temporary layoffs will begin on Monday, April 14, with limited production resuming in May. However, the plant will be idled from mid-year until October 2025 as GM undertakes retooling in preparation for 2026 model-year vehicles.
The employment cuts are expected to affect nearly 500 of the plant’s more than 1,200 workers. CAMI has been producing electric delivery vehicles since 2023.
This move comes on the heels of new U.S. tariffs—introduced on April 3—imposing a 25% duty on auto imports from Canada and Mexico, which have already triggered disruptions at other facilities, including a temporary shutdown at a Stellantis plant in Windsor, Ontario. The tariffs have raised alarms about the stability of the North American auto supply chain.
Despite the timing, GM clarified that the decision was driven by market demand and not directly influenced by the newly imposed U.S. tariffs. Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who has actively promoted the province as a hub for electric vehicle manufacturing, has previously warned of the risks such trade measures pose to Canadian jobs and industry growth.
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