As one London region automotive assembly plant halts production, another one nearby is gearing up to hire – meaning there may be opportunity for laid-off workers, auto industry officials say.

Cami Assembly in Ingersoll has laid off more than 1,100 workers after GM Canada announced recently it will stop making the BrightDrop electric-vehicle (EV) delivery van.

But in nearby St Thomas, PowerCo, the EV battery maker owned by Volkswagen, is ramping up its hiring for about 3,000 workers through 2026 and into 2027.

Since both plants manufacture in the EV sector, there’s a pool of experienced workers in a new area of manufacturing looking for work with nearby jobs available.

“I think our people would look like shining stars” to PowerCo, said Mike Van Boekel, chairperson of Unifor Local 88, re

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