General Motors Ingersoll Plant Closure: 500 Layoffs Imminent

General Motors (GM)’s CAMI assembly plant and battery manufacturing facility in Ingersoll, Ontario, will temporarily close and lay off hundreds of workers, according to the Unifor union.

GM has notified Local 88, the union that represents the workers, that it will begin the temporary layoffs. The company said the decision is not related to U.S. tariffs, but rather to reduced market demand and high inventory levels for BrightDrop electric vehicles.

A statement from GM:
“GM is adjusting operations and hiring to balance inventory and align production schedules with current demand. We are committed to the future of BrightDrop and the CAMI plant and will support employees during this transition period… This decision is simply a response to market conditions and inventory adjustments. BrightDrop and electric vehicle battery production will continue at CAMI.”

The layoffs began April 14 and workers will return for limited production in May. After that, production will be temporarily halted and the plant will remain idle until October. Meanwhile, GM plans to upgrade the plant’s equipment to produce electric commercial vehicles by 2026.

The union, which represents 1,200 workers at the plant, said the plant will operate on a single shift when production resumes in October, resulting in the permanent layoff of nearly 500 workers.

“This is a devastating blow to the families of hundreds of workers in Ingersoll and surrounding areas who depend on this plant for their livelihoods. GM must do everything it can to mitigate the impact of this recession on employment, and all levels of government must support auto workers and Canadian-made products.”

BrightDrop production at the CAMI plant began in early 2023. Last September, workers at the plant approved a new two-year contract that includes wage increases, paid vacations and basic bonuses. The contract expires in September 2026.

Canadian Conservative Leader Pierre Pulievre said in a statement on social media:
“I deeply regret the layoffs at GM’s CAMI plant in Ingersoll. Today I spoke with Mike Van Bockel, president of Unifor Local 88, and reiterated our commitment to supporting Canadian auto workers. We will work to keep jobs and families safe.”

Ontario Premier Doug Ford also called on Markham City News to increase orders from entities like Canada Post for electric vehicles produced at the plant. He stressed that the changes at CAMI were due to reduced demand, not U.S. tariffs.

GM announced on Thursday that it was also laying off about 200 workers at its all-electric plant in Detroit, Michigan. The company said the move was “in response to market developments.” The Detroit plant, which is home to electric models such as the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV, Hummer EV and Escalade IQ, employs about 4,500 workers.

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