GM recently launched its new BrightDrop electric van to electrify delivery vehicles, and now the automaker has announced that it is investing $ 800 million to manufacture new electric vans in Canada.
GM’s BrightDrop Electric vans
Last week, General Motors announced BrightDrop, a new division and brand that will provide an “ecosystem of electric first-to-last-mile products” for logistics businesses.
The flagship product of the new brand is the electric van BrightDrop EV600.
GM gives a list of the features of the EV600 electric van:
- Powered by the Ultium battery system, the EV600 is aimed at an estimated range of up to 250 miles on a full charge 1.
- Peak charging speeds of up to 170 miles EV range per hour via 120kW DC fast charger.
- More than 600 cubic feet of cargo area.
- Available at a GVWR of less than £ 10,000.
- Segment-leading security features
- Standard safety features2 include: Front and rear parking assist, automatic emergency brake, forward collision warning, tracking distance indicator, front foot brake, lane departure warning assist, IntelliBeam automatic big beams and HD rear view camera.
- Additional available safety and driver assistance features include: rear brake, blind spot steering assist, reverse automatic brake, HD Surround Vision, rear pedestrian warning, enhanced automatic emergency brake, among others.
- Cargo area security system with motion sensors to keep cargo safe.
- A 13.4-inch diagonal full-color info screen.
- Sliding front doors, wide cabin aisles and a large door that opens automatically all contribute to the driver’s efficiency.
GM invests in electric vehicle production in Canada
GM announced today that it is investing $ 1 billion CAD (~ $ 800 million USD) to convert its CAMI manufacturing facility in Ingersoll, Ontario, to electric vehicle production for its new BrightDrop division.
The company announced in a press release:
The nearly $ 800 million (1 billion Canadian dollars) investment will support GM’s timing to deliver BrightDrop EV600 by the end of 2021. The investment will enable GM to convert CAMI into Canada’s first large-scale manufacturing facility for electric delivery vehicles. “
GM is currently using the factory to manufacture the Chevrolet Equinox SUV.
He plans to move quickly to begin manufacturing the new electric van by the end of the year and begin deliveries to BrightDrop’s first customer, FedEx.
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