In Ingersoll, Ontario, a Unifor union representative has decided to halt production at the General Motors (GM) production facility for the all-electric Chevy BrightDrop van. The decision comes amidst slow sales of the commercial electric vehicle, despite various discounts, Costco member programs, and incentives that significantly reduce its cost compared to diesel competitors.
The uncertainty surrounding Donald Trump’s proposed automotive tariffs, even if temporarily halted, has already caused disruptions across multiple industries. GM is now bracing itself for more challenges in the near future due to the ripple effects caused by the tariff threats.
GM has announced plans to make operational and employment adjustments at the CAMI Assembly plant in Ontario, Canada, where the BrightDrop vans are manufactured. As a result, layoffs are expected to begin on April 14 and production will pause until October 2025, allowing the plant to undergo retooling for the anticipated 2026 model year BrightDrop vans.
The halt in production has raised concerns among Unifor National President Lana Payne, who emphasizes the importance of GM taking action to minimize job losses during this period. Additionally, she calls for government support to protect Canadian auto workers and domestically-made products.
Sales figures for the BrightDrop van show a modest increase from the first quarter of 2024 to the same period in 2025, with only 274 units sold initially. Despite this slight uptick, production resumption in October will see the plant operating on a reduced single shift, leading to the indefinite layoff of about 500 union factory workers, as reported by Unifor representatives.
BrightDrop customers can benefit from substantial discounts currently being offered, bringing down the price of the vehicle significantly. Moreover, utility incentives such as ComEd’s commercial EV rebates further reduce the cost for potential buyers, making the Chevy van a more appealing option for fleet electrification.
Local rebates and incentives, such as those offered by ComEd, present opportunities for fleets in the Chicago area to transition to electric delivery operations at a lower cost than anticipated. By exploring state and local incentives, customers can evaluate the affordability of the BrightDrop van in their region and potentially find an attractive deal within the electric vehicle market.