While the production for the BrightDrop electric vans halted due to low demand and U.S. tariffs, several other models remain in the Canadian market

General Motors is ending production of its Chevrolet BrightDrop electric delivery vans at the CAMI Assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ont.

This past May, production at the plant, which exclusively builds the electric BrightDrop EV van, was paused. At the time, GM cited slowing demand in the commercial EV market for the halt in production, but the plant was supposed to restart operations in November with a smaller workforce.

In a new statement, GM reiterated that low market prompted the permanent shutdown, noting that prior to the May pause, the CAMI plant had been “operating below capacity.”

Many of the BrightDrop vans built are shipped to U.S, where now “a changing regulatory environment and the elimination of tax credits in the United States have made the business even more challenging,” says GM.

Policy and political fallout

While GM described the decision as a market-driven response, Unifor, the union representing more than 1,200 workers at the CAMI plant, criticized both the automaker and U.S. policy decisions, calling them “destabilizing” for the Canadian auto sector.

“The reality is that CAMI was hit from both directions by Trump as he aggressively acted to undo EV supports and hit Canadian auto assembly plants with a 25 per cent tariff,” Unifor national president Lana Payne said in a press release. “Now more than 1,000 workers and their families are paying the price for Trump’s political interference and GM’s failure to hold the line.”

Local 88 president Mike Van Boekel said the decision leaves hundreds of skilled workers in limbo, despite decades of loyalty to GM. “We have a lot of members with decades of dedication to GM who are now abandoned,” he said. “These are highly skilled workers who delivered for this company and this community. They deserve a future at CAMI—not a dead end.”

GM emphasized that the closure “in no way reflects the commitment and skill of our workforce at CAMI,” and added that the company will provide hourly employees with six months’ salary, along with potential lump-sum payments and other benefits.

A promising start that never scaled

Launched in 2021, the BrightDrop vans were meant to anchor GM’s push toward an all-electric future. Their production was backed by more than $1 billion in federal and provincial retooling investments for the CAMI plant.

GM envisioned BrightDrop as a full-service logistics brand, combining electric delivery vans, smart pallets and fleet management software. Early customers included DHL Canada and FedEx Express Canada in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

GM said the decision to stop production of the EV vans is “part of broader adjustments the company is making to North America EV capacity,” says GM, confirming that manufacturing of the BrightDrop vans will not be shifted to another site.

Unifor’s Payne urged the federal government to respond decisively to this shutdown, noting that the CAMI facility had received significant public funding. “After billions of dollars in public support to build an EV future, Canada cannot allow companies to simply walk away the moment there is pressure from Washington or turbulence in the market,” she said. “Canada must respond with a real industrial strategy that defends Canadian jobs, leverages our market, and pushes back on Trump’s economic bullying.”

GM acknowledged federal and provincial support for the plant’s retooling. “[We] appreciate the investments from the Canadian and Ontario governments” says the automaker, adding that it intends to “have meaningful discussions” with both levels of government about future opportunities at CAMI.

Canada’s electric van market

While GM’s exit leaves a gap in Canada’s commercial EV van market, several other electric options remain available.

The Ford E-Transit, Mercedes-Benz eSprinter, Ram ProMaster EV and Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo are all available for purchase in Canada.

Newcomers such as the Workhorse W56 and W750 have also recently been approved for sale in Canada, expanding the range of all-electric options available to fleet owners.

And, finally, this week, Harbinger, a U.S.-based medium-duty electric and hybrid truck manufacturer, announced it has begun selling its electric step vans nationwide through Canadian dealer, Safetek Specialty Vehicles, with plans to expand its network in the months ahead.