General Motors to launch Canada's first commercial electric vehicle hub in Ontario

General Motors will launch Canada's first full-scale commercial electric vehicle manufacturing hub at its CAMI automotive assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, with production expected to begin by the end of the year, the company said April 4.

The start of EV production at CAMI is part of GM's larger $2 billion investment in Ontario that includes a commitment to restart vehicle manufacturing at its assembly plant in Oshawa, according to a joint statement released by the company and various Canadian government bodies.

The US-based automaker suspended operations at the Oshawa plant in 2019.

GM's investment was supported by $259 million in funding from the governments of Canada and Ontario.

"This partnership with the governments of Ontario and Canada is helping GM build a more diverse, innovative and sustainable industry and EV supply chain for the future, and we are proud to be doing that right here in Canada," GM Canada President and Managing Director Marissa West said in the statement.

Across its global footprint, GM is planning to introduce 30 new EV models by 2025, eliminate tailpipe emissions from new light-duty vehicles by 2035 and become carbon neutral by 2040. The Ingersoll plant will specifically produce the automaker's light-duty commercial vehicle models under its BrightDrop brand.

Canada, Ontario push EVs

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the government's continued support for domestic EV investments highlights the nation's push to lead "clean economy" efforts.

"Partnerships like these are critical to putting Canada on the cutting edge of the clean economy, creating thousands of new jobs, and making sure that future generations have a clean environment to live in," Trudeau said.

Vic Fedeli, Ontario's minister of economic development, job creation and trade, said GM's announcement represents another step in the growth of the province's EV sector under the current administration's "Driving Prosperity" plan.

"By reducing the cost of doing business in Ontario by nearly $7 billion annually, our government has created the right economic conditions to attract yet another historic investment that further positions Ontario as a North American leader in developing and building the cars of the future," Fedeli said.

Ontario's plan to grow its EV sector has also included a recent commitment from LG Energy Solutions and Stellantis to jointly build Canada's first EV battery gigafactory in Windsor.