General Motors (NYSE: GM) has converted its CAMI plant in Ontario into Canada’s first automotive manufacturing facility solely producing electric vehicles.
The Unifor trade union and Ontario government announced the news on Monday and Ontario has supported GM Canada with the conversion of the factory. The province provided a $259 million contribution to GM’s $2 billion investment supporting the transformation of the company’s CAMI plant and other facilities in April.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford were at the plant in Ingersoll celebrating the achievement.
Canada’s first full-scale commercial electric vehicle plant is here. It’s part of a whole supply chain we’re building across the country – and it’s part of how we’re growing a strong middle class so that workers, their families, and all Canadians can succeed. pic.twitter.com/NLHCUanbm7
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) December 6, 2022
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The CAMI plant will be the company’s designated hub for electric vehicles, including its new 100 per cent electric commercial vehicle brand, BrightDrop. The very first BrightDrop Zevo 600s also rolled off the production line at the facility on Monday.
“Today’s exciting, made-in-Ontario milestone is more proof that there is no better place to build the cars of the future from start to finish than right here in Ontario,” said Premier Doug Ford.
“From the critical minerals in the north to our manufacturing excellence in the south, Ontario has every advantage and will continue to build on our legacy as a global automotive leader for decades to come.”
Ontario has received approximately $16 billion in investments from global automakers and battery suppliers in the past two years with $12.5 billion going towards electric vehicles and EV battery manufacturing equipment.
Workers at the facility are scheduled to commence full-scale production of the BrightDrop vehicles in early 2023.
“Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for autoworkers at CAMI and across Canada. We have taken one big collective step towards building a stronger economy and a cleaner future we can all be proud of,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President.
Unifor is the primary union for automotive workers in Canada with approximately 22,000 members working in auto assembly. About 6,500 of those members are employed at General Motors.
rowan@mugglehead.com
