{{Short description|General Motors Canada assembly plant}} {{Use Canadian English|date=May 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox factory | name = CAMI Assembly <ref name='gmcami'>{{cite web|url=https://plants.gm.com/Facilities/public/ca/en/CAMI/news.html|access-date=November 16, 2019|title=CAMI Assembly Plant - News}}</ref> | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | location_map = | location_map_size = | location_map_caption = | location_map_alt = | coordinates = | built = <!-- {{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}} --> | operated = {{start date and age|1989|4|1}}<ref name='gmcami' /> | location = [[Ingersoll, Ontario]], Canada | industry = [[automotive industry|Automotive]] | products = [[car|Automobile]]s, [[BrightDrop Zevo 600]] | employees = | architect = | style = | buildings = | area = {{Convert|1700000|sqft|m2|-2}} | volume = | address = 300 Ingersoll Street <ref name='gmcami' /> | owner = [[General Motors Canada]] | website = {{URL|https://www.gmcamiassembly.ca/en/home/company/canada/cami.html|gmcamiassembly.ca}} | defunct = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> }} '''CAMI Assembly''' (an initialism of its original name, '''Canadian Automotive Manufacturing Inc.''') is an [[Automotive industry|automotive]] [[factory|assembly plant]] in [[Ingersoll, Ontario]], Canada, owned and operated by [[General Motors Canada]]. The plant currently assembles the [[Chevrolet BrightDrop]] [[Battery electric vehicle|battery-electric]] [[Van|cargo van]] for the North American market. CAMI occupies {{convert|570|acre|ha}} and has {{Convert|1700000|sqft|m2|-2}} of [[floor]] space of which {{Convert|400000|sqft|m2|0}} was added in 2016,<ref name="WSRJan2016">{{cite news|last= Chessell|first= Bruce|url= https://lfpress.com/2016/01/24/gms-ingersoll-cami-plant-looking-to-hire-assembly-line-and-skilled-trade-workers|title= GM's Ingersoll CAMI plant looking to hire assembly line and skilled trade workers|newspaper= Woodstock Sentinel-Review|date= 2016-01-24|access-date= 2017-01-15}}</ref> as part of a $560 million investment.<ref name=Global2015>{{cite news|url= http://globalnews.ca/news/1826401/gm-to-invest-450-million-in-cami-assembly-plant-in-ingersoll-report/ |title= GM to invest $450 million in Cami assembly plant in Ingersoll: report|publisher= [[Global News]]|via= The Canadian Press|date= 2015-02-12|access-date= 2017-01-15}}</ref>

CAMI was established in 1989 as a [[joint venture]] with [[Suzuki]], and has been wholly owned by GM since 2009. It uses the CAMI Production System (CPS), a set of operating philosophies that guide team members in manufacturing vehicles. The basis of the system is working in teams performing [[standardized]] work. This is based on the Japanese production system, which is built on a team concept.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lfpress.com/2012/12/23/and-you-are-les-bogar-manager-of-the-cami-assembly-plant/wcm/0bf52af8-cd8c-590d-3566-e9dce32d44a2|title=And you are? Les Bogar, Manager of the Cami Assembly plant|website=The London Free Press|first1=Norman|last=De Bono|date=2012-12-23|language=en|access-date=2019-01-22}}</ref>

==History== CAMI was an independently [[Incorporation (business)|incorporated]] [[joint venture]] of [[automobile]] manufacturing in [[Ingersoll, Ontario]], Canada and formed the third step of [[General Motors]]' three-pronged initiative of the mid-1980s to capture and practice the [[Japan]]ese mystique of automotive management. The other two were [[United Australian Automobile Industries]] between [[Toyota]] and [[Holden]] in [[Australia]], and [[NUMMI]] in [[California]] with Toyota and GM, the latter a wholly owned alternative to apply its learnings into practice. CAMI was the least successful of the trio for decades{{citation needed|date=September 2017}}, but is now the sole survivor.

Production began in late 1989 after several delays. To circumvent the American 25 percent "[[Chicken tax]]", the entire Canadian production of [[Geo Tracker]]s was initially shipped to the United States. The Canadian market, not afflicted by a similar tariff, was supplied directly from Japan.<ref name="Wards90">{{Cite book |title=Ward's Automotive Yearbook 1990 |date=1990 |publisher=Ward's Communications, Inc |isbn=9990347808 |editor-last=Stark |editor-first=Harry A. |volume=52 |location=Detroit, MI |page=251 |ref=WYB90 |editor-last2=Bush |editor-first2=James W.}}</ref>

[[File:CAMI sticker.JPG|thumb|left|150px|CAMI certification sticker on a [[Chevrolet Equinox]], 2007]] In November 2009, GM announced to invest US$85 million investment at the plant, raising production by 40,000 vehicles to 240,000 by adding a third shift, resulting in the recall of about 150 laid-off autoworkers in preparation of the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain.<ref name="Star2009"/><ref>{{cite news|last1=Greimel|first1=Hans|title=GM buys Suzuki's stake in CAMI joint-venture|url=http://www.autonews.com/article/20091204/OEM01/912049998/gm-buys-suzukis-stake-in-cami-joint-venture|access-date=25 September 2017|work=The Automotive News|date=4 Dec 2009}}</ref> Until December 2009, ownership of CAMI was split 50-50% between [[Suzuki]] and [[General Motors Canada|General Motors of Canada Ltd.]]<ref name="Star2009">{{cite news|last1=Freeman|first1=Sunny|title=GM taking full ownership of Ingersoll CAMI car plant. | url = https://www.thestar.com/business/2009/12/04/gm_taking_full_ownership_of_ingersoll_cami_car_plant.html|access-date=25 September 2017|work=The Toronto Star|agency=The Canadian Press|date=4 Dec 2009}}</ref> The former withdrew from the venture after it stopped production of its [[Suzuki XL-7#Second generation (XL7; 2006)|XL7]] models at CAMI in June 2009 due to poor sales.<ref name="Star2009"/>

In December 2010, contrary to conditions set out by Canadian federal and Ontario provincial governments, GM laid off approximately 90 salaried staff as a result of its takeover of the CAMI Assembly plant.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Canada |first=Health |date=2011-05-26 |title=Canada's Health Care System |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-care-system/reports-publications/health-care-system/canada.html |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=www.canada.ca}}</ref>

From 2013 the plant has produced vehicles based on GM's ''[[GM Theta platform|Theta]]'' platform for [[crossover SUV]]s; production of the second generation [[Chevrolet Equinox]] for fleet sales continued even as production of the third generation model started on 8 January 2017.<ref name="CTV8Jan2017">{{cite news|last= Matos|first= Nadia|url= https://www.ctvnews.ca/kitchener/article/cami-automotive-in-ingersoll-to-begin-new-chevrolet-equinox-production/ |title= Cami Automotive in Ingersoll to begin new Chevrolet Equinox production|publisher= [[CTV News]]|via= [[The Canadian Press]]|date= 2017-01-07|access-date= 2017-01-15}}</ref> In 2013 GM announced a US$200 million (C$250 million) investment for a new body shop and flexible manufacturing equipment and tooling to support future production.<ref name="Reuters2015"/>

In early 2015, GM announced to invest US$450 million (C$560 million) in the plant in preparation for production of the next generation Chevrolet Equinox.<ref name="Reuters2015">{{cite news|title=GM Canada to invest C$560 million in Ingersoll plant|url=http://ca.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idCAKBN0LG2DS20150212|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715210654/http://ca.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idCAKBN0LG2DS20150212|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2015|access-date=25 September 2017|work=Reuters|date=12 Feb 2015}}</ref> The amount included C$190 million at the plant and C$370 million in vendor tooling with suppliers.<ref name=Global2015/>

In January 2017, GM announced it would cut 625 workers as a result of shifting production of the second generation [[GMC Terrain]] to Mexico and phasing out the second generation Chevrolet Equinox earlier than planned.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Taylor|first1=Susan|last2=Sharp|first2=Alastair|title=GM to cut 625 jobs in Canada, move some work to Mexico: union|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-gm-canada-mexico/gm-to-cut-625-jobs-in-canada-move-some-work-to-mexico-union-idUSKBN15B1VN|access-date=19 September 2017|work=Reuters|date=27 Jan 2017}}</ref> CAMI Automotive has 2,800 hourly and 300 salaried employees in early 2017 before the layoff.<ref name=LFPJan17>{{cite news|last1=De Bono|first1=Norman|title=Cami Ingersoll slashing 600 jobs, moving Terrain production to Mexico|url=https://lfpress.com/2017/01/27/cami-ingersoll-slashing-600-jobs-moving-terrain-production-to-mexico|access-date=19 September 2017|work=The London Free Press|date=27 Jan 2017}}</ref> CAMI also supplied unfinished bodies of Chevrolet Equinox to GM's [[Oshawa Car Assembly]] for painting and final assembly.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Keenan|first1=Greg|title=GM going it alone on $554-million Ontario investment|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/general-motors-going-it-alone-to-invest-in-canadian-operations/article34072762/|access-date=19 September 2017|work=The Globe and Mail|date=17 Feb 2017}}</ref> The arrangement ended after the production of the second generation Chevrolet Equinox ceased in 2017. In response to the Terrain's shifting and due to the production of the Equinox in two plants in Mexico, workers went on a strike, demanding CAMI become the main assembly point of the Equinox. The strike ended on October 16, 2017.<ref>{{cite news|last=LeBel|first=Jacquelyn|title=General Motors CAMI plant strike to end after workers approve tentative agreement|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/3805109/cami-workers-to-vote-on-tentative-agreement-could-be-back-on-the-job-monday-night/|access-date=26 October 2017|agency=Global News|date=16 Oct 2017}}</ref>

In 2021, GM announced CAMI Assembly would transition to the [[BrightDrop]] platform (starting in May 2022<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bicknell |first1=Bryan |title=The finish line draws closer for gas powered vehicles at Ontario CAMI plant |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/london/article/the-finish-line-draws-closer-for-gas-powered-vehicles-at-ontario-cami-plant/ |access-date=2 April 2022 |work=CTV News |publisher=Bell Media |date=3 March 2022}}</ref>) to become General Motors Canada's first commercial EV manufacturing plant.<ref>{{cite news |last1=LaReau |first1=Jamie L. |title=GM's new Canada factory will be key to Michigan electric vehicle production |url=https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/general-motors/2022/03/07/gm-new-factory-becancour-quebec-canada-posco-chemical/9382439002/ |access-date=2 April 2022 |work=Detroit Free Press |date=7 March 2022}}</ref> Announced initial buyers include FedEx and Walmart.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hawkins |first1=Andrew J. |title=Walmart and FedEx ordering thousands of electric delivery vans from GM's BrightDrop |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/1/5/22867087/walmart-brightdrop-electric-delivery-van-gm-fedex |access-date=2 April 2022 |work=The Verge |publisher=Vox Media |date=5 January 2022}}</ref> The plant will begin to produce the [[BrightDrop Zevo]] 600 in December 2022,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Venetis |first=Tom |date=4 April 2022 |title=GM Canada Electric Vehicle Production in Ontario by the End of 2022 |work=Metroland Media Group |url=http://www.canadianautoworld.ca/industry-news/gm-canada-electric-vehicle-production-in-ontario-by-the-end-of-2022 |access-date=24 April 2022 |archive-date=28 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428194350/http://www.canadianautoworld.ca/industry-news/gm-canada-electric-vehicle-production-in-ontario-by-the-end-of-2022 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the Zevo 400 in 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Abuelsamid |first1=Sam |title=Brightdrop Completes First Of 500 Electric Fedex Vans, Adds Smaller EV410 For 2023 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/samabuelsamid/2021/09/28/brightdrop-completes-first-of-500-electric-fedex-vans-adds-smaller-ev410-for-2023/ |access-date=2 April 2022 |work=Forbes |date=28 September 2021}}</ref>

The first BrightDrop vehicles were produced in early December 2022,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramey |first=Jay |date=2022-12-08 |title=BrightDrop Begins Mass Production of Its EV Vans |url=https://www.autoweek.com/news/green-cars/a42186939/brightdrop-ev-production-gm-cami-ingersoll-ontario/ |access-date=2022-12-22 |website=Autoweek |language=en-US}}</ref> with a grand opening event attended by various dignitaries.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jarratt |first=Emma |date=2022-12-05 |title=First Canadian-made GM BrightDrop electric van rolls off the line |url=https://electricautonomy.ca/2022/12/05/first-brightdrop-van-gm-cami-plant/ |access-date=2022-12-22 |website=Electric Autonomy Canada |language=en-CA}}</ref> GM also announced package delivery service [FEDEX] as its first international EV customer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Straight |first=Brian |date=2022-12-05 |title=BrightDrop adds DHL Express as EV customer, announces start of production at CAMI plant |url=https://www.freightwaves.com/news/brightdrop-adds-dhl-express-as-ev-customer-announces-start-of-production-at-cami-plant |access-date=2022-12-22 |website=FreightWaves |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Vehicles produced==

===Former=== * [[Chevrolet BrightDrop]] 400 (2023–2025) * [[Chevrolet BrightDrop]] 600 (2022–2025) * [[Chevrolet Equinox]] (2004–2022) * [[Geo Metro|Chevrolet/Geo Metro]] (1989–2001) * [[Geo Tracker|Chevrolet/Geo/GMC Tracker]] (1989–2004) * [[GMC Terrain]] (2009–2017)<ref name=LFPJan17/><ref>{{cite news|last1=Stacey|first1=Megan|title=GM Cami Assembly plant in Ingersoll starts building next generation Chevrolet Equinox and plans for phase out of GMC Terrain as production of its new model moves to Mexico|url=http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2017/01/12/gm-cami-assembly-plant-in-ingersoll-starts-building-next-generation-chevrolet-equinox-and-plans-for-phase-out-of-gmc-terrain-as-production-of-its-new-model-moves-to-mexico|access-date=19 September 2017|work=The Woodstock Sentinel Review|date=12 Jan 2017}}</ref> * [[Pontiac Firefly]] (1989–2001) * [[Geo Tracker|Pontiac/Asüna Sunrunner]] (1989–1998) * [[Pontiac Torrent]] (2006–2009) * [[Suzuki Vitara#Second generation (FT/GT; 1998)|Suzuki Grand Vitara]] (1998–2005) * [[Suzuki Vitara#First generation (ET/TA; 1988)|Suzuki Sidekick]] (1989–1998) * [[Suzuki Cultus#Second generation (1988)|Suzuki Swift]] (1989–2001) * [[Suzuki XL-7#Second generation (XL7; 2006)|Suzuki XL-7]] (2006–2009)

==Historical timeline== *1986 - CAMI Automotive established *1989 - Production of J1 (and [[Geo Tracker]]), M2 ([[Geo Metro]]) begins - 6,760 vehicles were built in calendar year 1989.<ref name=Wards90/> *1990 - [[Suzuki Sidekick]] production added.<ref name=Wards90/> *1993 - Total CAMI production reaches 500,000. *1994 - Production of M3 (Geo Metro and Pontiac Firefly) begins. *1996 - Total CAMI production reaches 1.5 [[million]] vehicles. *1998 - Production of J2 ([[Chevrolet Tracker|Suzuki Vitara]] and [[Geo Tracker]]) begins and CAMI receives [[ISO 9002]] registration for its Quality Management System. *2000 - CAMI receives [[ISO 14001]] registration for its Environmental Management System. *2003 - Total CAMI production reaches 11.5 million vehicles. *2004 - Production of [[Chevrolet Equinox]] begins. *2005 - Production of [[Pontiac Torrent]] begins. *2006 - Production of [[Suzuki XL-7#Second generation (XL7; 2006)|Suzuki XL7]] begins. *2009 - Production of Suzuki XL7 put on indefinite hold. *2009 - Production of [[GMC Terrain]] begins. *2009 - Suzuki withdraws from venture; gives General Motors full control.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Freeman |first=Sunny |date=4 December 2009 |title=GM taking full ownership of Ingersoll CAMI car plant |work=Toronto Star |url=https://www.thestar.com/business/2009/12/04/gm_taking_full_ownership_of_ingersoll_cami_car_plant.html |access-date=6 April 2022}}</ref> *2016 - Plant expansion *2017 - Production start of third generation Equinox;<ref name="CTV8Jan2017" /> production of sister second generation Terrain moved to Mexico;<ref>{{cite news|last= Welch|first= David|url= https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-01-09/gm-s-new-upscale-gmc-terrain-could-test-trump-s-mexico-policy |title= GM to Move Production of GMC Terrain to Mexico From Canada|publisher= [[Bloomberg News]]|date= 2017-01-08|access-date= 2017-01-15}}</ref> in response of the Terrain's moving to Mexico, workers go on a strike demanding CAMI to become the main assembly point of the Equinox in order to prevent more shiftings to Mexico.<ref>{{cite news|title=GM workers at Ingersoll plant go on strike|url=http://torontosun.com/2017/09/18/gm-workers-at-ingersoll-plant-go-on-strike/wcm/313435dc-2393-44c3-90a2-f5731b46ce66|access-date=26 October 2017|agency=Toronto Sun|date=18 September 2017}}</ref> *2022 - Production of the [[Chevrolet Equinox]] ended April 29, 2022<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bicknell |first=Bryan |date=3 March 2022 |title=The finish line draws closer for gas powered vehicles at Ontario CAMI plant |work=CTV News |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/london/article/the-finish-line-draws-closer-for-gas-powered-vehicles-at-ontario-cami-plant/ |access-date=17 May 2022}}</ref> *2022 - Plant retools for BrightDrop production<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kennedy |first=David |date=6 April 2022 |title=GM BrightDrop CEO says there is 'incredibly' high demand for automaker's electric vans |work=AutoNews |url=https://canada.autonews.com/electric-vehicles/gm-brightdrop-ceo-says-there-incredibly-high-demand-automakers-electric-vans |access-date=6 April 2022}}</ref> *2022 - Production of the [[BrightDrop Zevo 600]] begins December 2022. *2023 - Production of the [[BrightDrop Zevo 400]] begins.

==Awards and highlights== *In the 2005 Harbour Report, CAMI was ranked No. 3 in [[truck]] [[Assembly line|assembly]] in the Small [[SUV]] category of the 45 auto assembly plants in [[North America]]. *Recognized as the most efficient plant in North America four years in a row (2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015) *J.D. Power Silver Plant Award for the Americas – June 2014 *Landfill Free status achieved in January 2014 <ref>{{Cite news |last=Novak |first=Eric |date=17 November 2014 |title=GM Canada Assembly Plant Achieves Landfill-free Status |work=Enviro Dad |url=http://envirodad.com/gm-canada-assembly-plant-achieves-landfill-free-status/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103141408/http://envirodad.com/gm-canada-assembly-plant-achieves-landfill-free-status/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=January 3, 2015 |access-date=12 June 2022}}</ref> *Clean50 - 'Leaders in Sustainability' Top 15 Project winner - September 2015<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016 |title=General Motors of Canada Limited: CAMI Assembly Plant – Zero Waste to Landfill |url=https://clean50.com/projects/general-motors-of-canada-limited-cami-assembly-plant-zero-waste-to-landfill/ |access-date=12 June 2022 |website=Clean 50 |publisher=Delta Management Group (which owns "clean50.com")}}</ref> *Best GMNA Plant in Wiring Warranty Performance – February 2014

==See also==

*[[United Australian Automobile Industries]] (UAAI) &mdash; A similar joint venture in [[Australia]] between Toyota and [[Holden|GM-Holden]] from 1989 to 1996. *[[NUMMI]] &mdash; A similar joint venture in [[United States]] between [[Toyota]] and [[General Motors]] from 1984 to 2009; now a 100% [[Tesla Motors]] owned and operated plant.

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{official website}}

{{General Motors factories}} {{Automotive industry in Canada}} {{coord|43|01|01|N|80|53|15|W|region:CA-ON_type:landmark|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cami Automotive}} [[Category:Car manufacturers of Canada]] [[Category:General Motors factories]] [[Category:Ingersoll, Ontario]] [[Category:Canadian subsidiaries of foreign companies]] [[Category:1986 establishments in Ontario]] [[Category:Motor vehicle assembly plants in Canada]]