OTTAWA – General Motors says it will invest more than C$2 billion ($1.6 billion) to convert its CAMI plant in Ingersoll, ON, for electric-vehicle production and expand production of internal-combustion-powered pickups at its Oshawa, ON, factory.
The Ontario provincial government and Canada’s federal government will support these projects at C$259 million ($207 million) each.
At Ingersoll, located roughly halfway between Toronto and Detroit, GM will scale up production of BrightDrop battery-electric delivery vans in December after retooling this spring and summer. The plant currently produces the Chevrolet Equinox midsize CUV.
Marissa West, GM Canada president and managing director, says the Ingersoll project will be “Canada’s first full-scale electric vehicle manufacturing.”
The expansion at Oshawa, located 30 miles (48 km) east of Toronto, will involve Chevy Silverado pickup production, with a third shift added later this year, creating 2,600 new jobs.
“As a result, Oshawa will be the only GM plant producing both heavy-duty and light-duty pickups, enabling flexibility and responsiveness to the North American market,” the automaker says.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, recalling other recent announcements such as Stellantis opening a battery plant in Windsor and Honda building hybrids at Alliston, says, “It shows once again that the cars of the future will be made right here in Ontario, by Ontario workers.”
François-Philippe Champagne, the federal minister of innovation, science and industry, says GM’s investment is “proof that Canada’s auto sector is here for the long term,” delivering “more jobs, more clean vehicles and more economic growth.”
