The CAMI automotive assembly plant in Ingersoll will see $250 million in investment from General Motors, the company announced Friday.
GM says the money will be used to install flexible body shop equipment and tooling, which will make it easier for the facility to support future vehicle production.
“Conversion of the CAMI assembly plant to a flexible manufacturing facility will provide CAMI with the ability to produce multiple global architectures and body styles,” GM Canada president Kevin Williams said in a press release.
“Continually improving the flexibility of our manufacturing operations helps us respond quickly to customer needs and market demand.”
Negotiations on a new contract between the plant and its union began in February. The current agreement between workers and the company expires in September.
CAW Local 88 president Dan Borthwick wouldn’t provide an update on how negotiations were going, but said the two sides are meeting daily and hope to have a deal by March 24.
Borthwick called Friday’s announcement “great news” for the plant.
“Hopefully it will provide some security for our existing members and salaried staff,” he said.
The CAMI plant, which has been operating six days a week with three shifts, produces the popular Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain crossover vehicles.
The plant was established by GM and Suzuki in 1986 and began production in 1989. GM assumed full ownership in 2009.
Construction on the upgrades to the plant is expected to start in the next few weeks.
With files from The Canadian Press
