General Motors’ decision to halt production of its BrightDrop electric vans affects over 1,000 laid-off Unifor Local 88 members
Unifor is condemning General Motors’ decision to end production of the BrightDrop electric delivery van at its CAMI Assembly Plant in Ingersoll, calling it a direct result of the Trump administration’s “dangerous and destabilizing” auto policies.
“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% tariff,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “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.”
The announcement affects more than 1,000 Unifor Local 88 members who have been laid off since May, when the plant was idled amid slowing commercial EV demand. GM has now confirmed a full end to the BrightDrop line, with no commitment on what’s next for the facility.
Unifor Local 88 President Mike Van Boekel said the news is devastating for longtime employees who helped make CAMI a key part of Canada’s auto sector. “These are highly skilled workers who delivered for this company and this community. They deserve a future at CAMI — not a dead end.”
The CAMI plant underwent a $1-billion retooling to build BrightDrop vans, a project backed by both federal and provincial governments. Payne said that after billions in public investment to support Canada’s electric vehicle industry, GM’s withdrawal underscores the need for a stronger national strategy.
“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.”
The decision comes as GM also prepares to eliminate a production shift in Oshawa in early 2026 and as Stellantis moves Jeep Compass production from Brampton to the U.S., raising broader concerns about the future of Canadian auto manufacturing.
Unifor says it will meet with GM and both levels of government immediately to press for a new product mandate to secure the long-term future of CAMI Assembly.
