US automaker General Motors inaugurated the first large-scale electric vehicle manufacturing plant in Canada on Monday, in the presence of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The Ingersoll, Ontario, assembly plant has been remodeled thanks to an investment of more than 500 million Canadian dollars (363 million euros) from the federal and Ontario governments.
It’s part of a broader Canadian electric vehicle strategy, which spans everything from mining rare minerals like lithium to producing batteries for the North American auto industry.
“Today we open the first large-scale electric vehicle manufacturing plant in Canada,” Justin Trudeau said at a news conference with General Motors (GM) executives.
“Great Canadian Stage”
GM Canada President Marissa West called the grand opening a “great Canadian milestone,” noting that the refurbishment of the plant that once made gasoline-powered SUVs began in May and was completed in just seven months.
“The future of electric vehicles in Canada is no longer a distant project. It is here and now,” she told factory workers, surrounded by two of the new electric vans.
The plant will make BrightDrop Zevo 600 electric delivery vans. GM aims to produce up to 50,000 a year by 2025.
BrightDrop also announced DHL Express as its first Canadian customer.
Source: BFM TV
