Canada on Monday announced an investment in General Motors of Canada Company (GM)'s first full-scale commercial electric vehicle manufacturing facility to advance the electrification of the country's automotive sector.
Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Fran?ois-Philippe Champagne said the 259 million Canadian dollar (207 million U.S. dollar) federal government investment would support GM's more than 2 billion Canadian dollar (1.6 billion U.S. dollar) project to reignite production at its Oshawa Assembly Plant and the transformation of its CAMI Assembly Plant in Ingersoll, both based in Ontario.
According to a news release issued on Monday, the provincial government of Ontario is making a matching contribution of up to 259 million Canadian dollars (207 million U.S. dollars) toward the project.
The CAMI plant in Ingersoll will become Canada's first full-scale electric vehicle production facility and by the end of 2022, will exclusively build electric light-duty commercial vehicles. This will support the decarbonization of transportation emissions in light commercial vehicles in Canada and promote this trend globally, the news release said.
"This is proof that Canada's auto sector is here for the long term. GM's continued commitment to its facilities in Canada, and its decision to set up the country's first electric vehicle production facility, highlight how Canada is a world leader in building the vehicles of the future," said Champagne.
GM is planning to introduce 30 new electric vehicles by 2025, eliminate tailpipe emissions from new light-duty vehicles by 2035 and become carbon neutral in its global products and operations by 2040.
The automotive sector, one of Canada's largest export industries, supports the employment of nearly 500,000 Canadians.
Editor: Galia
