ONTARIO: General Motors Co (GM) will invest nearly US$800mil to bring production of the BrightDrop EV600 electric vehicle to its CAMI manufacturing plant in Ontario, Canada.
The investment would convert the factory into a large-scale electric delivery vehicle manufacturing plant to support GM’s timing to deliver the EV600 in late 2021, the company said in a statement.
The agreement is subject to ratification with union Unifor and confirmation of government support.
GM last Tuesday announced the creation of a wholly owned company, BrightDrop, with plans to supply battery-powered vans but also offers fleet-management services.
The proposed investment would create Canada’s first large-scale commercial EV manufacturing plant, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Economic Development Vic Fedeli said in a statement.
Separately, Ford Motor Co reached a tentative contract agreement with Unifor in the latter half of last year, including plans to assemble five battery-powered models beginning in 2025 at the company’s Oakville, Ontario plant.
The plant was at risk of closing because the Edge sport-utility vehicle made there has an uncertain future.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV also agreed to spend between C$1.35bil and C$1.5bil on a new electric-vehicle platform at its Windsor, Ontario plant.
GM has deep roots in Ontario, having built over 20 million vehicles at its Oshawa plant since 1918. — Bloomberg
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