GM invests US$800mn to convert CAMI into large EV plant

In an announcement made by General Motors (GM), the company has reported plans to invest US$800mn into converting its CAMI manufacturing plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, into a large-scale commercial electric vehicle (EV) facility.  

The investment follows the automotive manufacturers launch of its latest startup organisation - BrightDrop. 

“BrightDrop offers a smarter way to deliver goods and services. We are building on our significant expertise in electrification, mobility applications, telematics and fleet management, with a new one-stop-shop solution for commercial customers to move goods in a better, more sustainable way,” commented Mary Barra GM Chairman and CEO on the launch. 

The investment of US$800mn is said to support GM’s timing to deliver BrightDrop EV600 in late 2021, and enable GM to convert its CAMI manufacturing plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, into Canada’s first large-scale commercial electric vehicle (EV) facility.

Transformation works will begin immediately to transform CAMI, supporting jobs and transforming work at the plant in the next two years. Following the completion of the transformations CAMI will produce EV600s instead of its Chevrolet Equinox vehicles. 

Stating that BrightDrop solutions are “designed to help businesses lower costs, maximise productivity, improve employee safety and freight security, and support overall sustainability efforts,” GM reports that Bright Drop is an all new business with GM that offers its commercial customers “an ecosystem of connected and electrified products and services designed to improve the delivery of goods and services from the first to last mile.”

GM’s latest builds upon the manufacturers commitments to the country, in recent months GM has made several investments including: 

• Nearly US$1.03bn into Oshawa Assembly Pickup investments 
• US$86mn product and US$22mn Renewable Energy Cogeneration project at St. Catharines
• Nearly US$135mn investment in after-market parts operation in Oshawa

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