TORONTO – The federal and provincial government today celebrated the opening of General Motors of Canada’s first electric vehicle manufacturing facility in Ingersoll and the build of the first BrightDrop Zevo 600s at the facility, all-electric delivery vans that will help reduce pollution. 

With support from the federal government and the Province, General Motors of Canada has transformed its “Cami” manufacturing facility into an all-electric vehicle manufacturing facility, the first of its kind in Canada. A project that helps secure the province’s position as a global automotive hub with vehicles of the future built in Ontario by Ontario workers, from start to finish. By 2025, the plant plans to produce 50,000 electric vehicles annually. A project that has helped secure thousands of well-paid, high-quality jobs and is also helping to advance the electrification of Canada’s automotive industry.

“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, present at the inauguration together with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (in the pic above, together) and other representatives of the two governments.

In April, General Motors Canada announced an investment of more than $2 billion to transform its manufacturing facilities and improve its operations: this investment was supported with $259 million in funding from the federal and provincial governments. “When we invested in GM’s project to build Canada’s first full-scale electric vehicle manufacturing plant in Ingersoll, we knew it would deliver results. Today, as the first BrightDrop van rolls off the line, that’s exactly what we’re seeing. This plant has secured good jobs for workers, it is positioning Canada as a leader on EVs, and will help cut pollution. Good jobs, clean air, and a strong economy – together, that’s the future we can build” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. 

“Today is proof that our historic investments in EV manufacturing are paying off. With the first BrightDrop vans coming off the assembly line, we’re seeing the skill of Canadian workers making a huge difference as the world moves to EVs. Our government, in partnership with GM, is cementing Canada’s leadership in the EV supply chain” said François-Philippe Champagne, minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.

Vic Fedeli, minister of Economic Development of Ontario, said that “watching the first BrightDrop vehicles roll off the assembly line, it is clear that Ontario will build the cars of the future. Our government continues to attract transformative investments by creating the right economic conditions and reducing red tape”.

“I am proud to call the CAMI EV Assembly team the first full-scale all-electric manufacturing team in Canada” said Mark Reuss, president of General Motors.

The size and scope of this investment will accelerate the pace of Ontario’s 10-year vision for Driving Prosperity – The Future of Ontario’s Automotive Sector plan. Driving Prosperity phase two is an important part of the government’s plan to transform the province’s automotive supply chain to build the cars of the future, including the production of hybrid vehicles, battery electric vehicles, battery production for electric vehicles and the increase in exports of auto parts manufactured in Ontario.

Over the past two years, Ontario has attracted $16 billion in transformative automotive investments from global automakers and suppliers of electric vehicle batteries and battery materials. This includes more than $12.5 billion of investment in the production of electric vehicles and electric vehicle batteries.