To meet what it says is ‘strong current and future market demand for the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain’, CAMI Automotive is investing $C90 million in a project that includes the re-tooling of the facility’s West Body Shop resulting in increased capacity and the recall of approximately 150 employees.
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The added capacity from this investment will result in the production an additional 40,000 vehicles annually for the Canadian and US markets.
As a result of the increased capacity from the retooling, approximately 150 laid off employees will be recalled for work. This in an additional recall, over and above the more than 300 employees recalled with the reinstatement of the third shift in October. As a result of this recall, CAMI will have no remaining employees on layoff.
“Proudly built in Canada at CAMI, the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain are two of GM’s hottest selling products,” says Arturo Elias, president, GM Canada.
“This investment is an excellent example of what happens when you get the product right. If the product is right, everything else follows – increased production, increased employment and strong market demand.”
“As a major partner in the restructuring of the automotive industry over the past year, I am very encouraged by this investment,” said The Honourable Tony Clement, Canadian Minister of Industry. “As a result of the high demand for the Equinox and Terrain, approximately 450 workers have returned to or will start new jobs at the plant. This is great news for CAMI, great news for Ingersoll and for Canada.”
“Ontario is a world leader in automotive production and assembly, thanks to our highly skilled workforce and culture of innovation,” said The Honourable Sandra Pupatello, Ontario Minister of Economic Development and Trade. “We applaud the investment made today by CAMI Automotive, and we congratulate the CAMI and GMCL teams, as they continue to contribute to our province’s success.”
The $C90 million will be used to re-tool CAMI’s West Body Shop and other renovations to increase production of the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain. The planning and retooling work will begin immediately and the project is anticipated to be completed in approximately seven months.
CAMI Automotive Inc. (CAMI) is an independently incorporated joint venture between Suzuki Motor Corporation and General Motors of Canada Ltd. We are located in Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada. Production began in April of 1989 as an opportunity for GM to offer economy cars and Suzuki to access the North American market. Over the years, CAMI has produced various entry-level vehicles such as the Chevy Metro, Pontiac Firefly, Suzuki Swift, Chevy Tracker, Suzuki Sidekick, and the Suzuki Vitara. Production of new mid-size SUV products began in 2004 with the Chevrolet Equinox, the Pontiac Torrent (2005) and the Suzuki XL7 (2006).
