The first full-scale electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing plant opened Monday in Ingersoll. With funding from the province, GM Canada has transformed its CAMI manufacturing plant into an all-EV manufacturing plant, the first of its kind in Canada.
“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.”
The CAMI plant will be designated EV hub for its new all-electric commercial vehicle brand BrightDrop. As part of today’s grand opening, the first BrightDrop Zevo 600s also rolled off the CAMI EV line, marking a new chapter in EV production in Ontario.
In April, GM Canada announced an investment of more than $2 billion to renovate its CAMI and Oshawa manufacturing plants and improve operations across all of its manufacturing and R&D facilities in Ontario. This investment was supported with $259 million in funding from the province.
The investment is expected to speed up Ontario’s 10-year vision for the Driving Prosperity ― The Future of Ontario’s Automotive Sector plan.
Ontario is currently the only place in North America where five major automakers build vehicles — Honda, Toyota, Ford, General Motors and Stellantis — as well as truck manufacturer Hino. Ontario’s auto supply chain comprises over 700 parts firms and over 500 tool, die and mold makers.
“I am especially proud of the BrightDrop and CAMI teams working together to take the Zevo 600 from concept to commercialization in less than two years, making this the fastest launch in GM’s history. Electric-vehicle manufacturing in Canada is no longer something that’s happening in the future. It’s here and it’s now. That’s good for Canada, and good for the planet,” Marissa West, president and managing director, GM Canada, said in a statement.