General Motors (GM) has announced a temporary shutdown of the CAMI Assembly Plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, from October through spring 2024. The decision to halt production is attributed to delays in the delivery of Ultium battery modules crucial for powering the BrightDrop Zevo 600 and Zevo 410 electric vans manufactured at the facility.
GM spokesperson Maria Violette explained the situation, stating, “CAMI Assembly will take downtime beginning in October, due to previously announced delays in battery-module supply.” She further added, “Vehicle production is expected to resume in the spring of 2024, supported by the launch of CAMI’s new battery-module line, which will have capacity to fully support BrightDrop production at CAMI and supplement EV production at other GM plants.”
This recent shutdown follows a two-week idling of the CAMI Assembly Plant in July, a consequence of a battery module shortage that arose after a two-week summer shutdown. Before this disruption, employees at the plant were working on rotating shifts, alternating between two weeks on and four weeks off to maintain employment levels.
During GM’s second-quarter earnings call in July, CEO Mary Barra disclosed that issues with automation equipment supply for battery module production were hampering the company’s electric vehicle production expansion. The delays were attributed to an unnamed automation equipment supplier grappling with delivery challenges, which, in turn, restricted module assembly capacity. At the time, it was anticipated that these issues would be resolved by the end of 2023.
In response, General Motors dispatched manufacturing engineering teams to assist the automation supplier in improving delivery schedules. Additionally, GM introduced manual module assembly lines at its EV facilities, including the CAMI site.
The CAMI Assembly Plant, covering 400,000 square feet, is slated to become operational in the second quarter of 2024, supporting the production of BrightDrop Zevo vans and other GM electric vehicles.
Presently, Ultium batteries powering the BrightDrop Zevo electric vans are produced exclusively at Ultium Cells’ Ohio battery cell plant. However, GM and its joint venture partner, LG Energy Solution, have plans to open a second cell plant in Tennessee in 2024 and a third in Michigan in 2025 to expand production capabilities.
The CAMI Assembly Plant employs approximately 1,500 individuals, with 1,200 of them being members of the Unifor union. GM Canada has indicated that “major layoffs” will commence in mid-October, leading to the temporary suspension of the entire workforce.
Lana Payne, Unifor’s national president, expressed concern, stating, “It’s devastating news to our members,” and highlighting efforts to persuade the company to shorten the downtime period.
