What you need to know:
- GM confirmed the discontinuation of its BrightDrop battery-electric delivery van after just four years due to slower-than-expected demand and underutilized capacity at its CAMI Assembly plant in Ontario.
- Regulatory shifts and the loss of U.S. electric vehicle tax incentives further complicated the viability of the BrightDrop, prompting GM to realign its EV production strategy in North America. OEM services to existing fleets remains unchanged, GM confirmed to Clean Trucking.
- The decision raises concerns for employees at the CAMI Assembly plant, with GM expressing a commitment to collaborate with Unifor and Canadian officials to determine future plans for the facility.
- Despite partnerships with FedEx, Walmart, Ryder, and a recent Target pilot program, the BrightDrop electric van program was unable to sustain momentum under the Chevrolet brand.
General Motors is dropping its battery-electric BrightDrop delivery van after just four years, the Detroit-based automaker confirmed Tuesday, October 21.
Clean Trucking has confirmed with a GM spokesperson that the OEM will continue offering services like repairs and routine maintenance for existing BrightDrop fleets.
The surprise announcement came during the company's third-quarter earnings report. GM cited significantly slower-than-expected demand as the reason, with the CAMI Assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ontario operating well below capacity. BrightDrop production has been suspended since last May.
On top of that, shifting regulations and the loss of U.S. tax credits for battery-electric vehicles have added extra hurdles. This move, GM says, is part of its bigger plan to adjust its EV production capacity across North America.
"The decision to end production of the BrightDrop electric delivery van is driven by market demand and in no way reflects the commitment and skill of our workforce at CAMI," said Kristian Aquilina, president and managing director of GM Canada. "This continues to be an uncertain time for our workforce at CAMI, and we are committed to working closely with our employees, Unifor and the Canadian and Ontario governments as we evaluate next steps for the future of CAMI."
The 2025 Chevrolet BrightDrop's interior showcasing the digital dash display.Chevrolet
BrightDrop launched in January 2021 as a commercial EV startup under GM's umbrella. Initially operating as a wholly owned subsidiary, it was fully integrated into GM in November 2023. Less than a year later, it became part of the Chevrolet brand.
[Related: GM's BrightDrop EV commercial vans join Chevrolet brand]
Despite the branding change and other hurdles, major corporations became BrightDrop customers, including FedEx, Walmart, and Ryder. Earlier this past week, in fact, Target announced a new last-mile delivery pilot program in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas that's set to include 50 BrightDrop vans. The status of that program is now unclear, at least for now.
