GM’s Oshawa plant in Ontario has been producing the current generation Chevy Silverado HD since November 2021, and the Chevy Silverado 1500 since May 2022. However, production recently slowed at the facility following the implementation of import tariffs from the Trump administration, and the plant is currently operating on two shifts instead of three, resulting in layoffs.
Historically, the Oshawa plant was one of GM’s largest plants and one of the city’s largest employers. It is also responsible for creating many indirect jobs for nearby suppliers. “Previously, around 87 percent of our economy was related to the automotive and transportation industry. The amount was around three percent 1776458109,” said Mayor Dan Carter during an interview with City News.
Now, the city of Oshawa hopes to revive some of its manufacturing sectors to boost the local economy, thanks to facilities and institutions that could contribute to the manufacture of electric vehicles, AVs, and even military vehicles, such as those made by GM Defense. Facilities relevant to efforts to expand the manufacturing sector back to a viable level include the GM CTC McLaughlin Test Track, as well as the Ontario Technology University for cybersecurity and AI expertise, and the Automotive Center of Excellence.
ACE, in particular, is a 175,000-square-foot facility developed through partnerships with the University, General Motors Canada, the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada, among others. It has a climate testing and research center, the first of its kind in the country. It offers a full-sized test chamber for evaluating vehicle climate, structural durability and life cycle testing. The wind tunnel is said to be ideal for testing armored vehicles against harsh weather, and could help develop military vehicles suitable to withstand Canada’s climate.
“We are a NATO-DIANA test facility, something unique for a NATO member. Nothing can match this facility for Canada,” said University Vice President of Research and Innovation Les Jacobs. “We have companies trying to sell to NATO companies in general, they come to test vehicles here.”
GM Defense ISV-Heavy, based on the Chevy Silverado HD ZR2.
In 2024, GM Defense was awarded a CAD$35.8 million contract to build 90 light tactical vehicles for the Canadian Armed Forces. However, the unit is made in the United States. Oshawa Mayor Carter wants future vehicles purchased by CAF to be made locally. “Think about where we are today with respect to defense spending and Canada is required to be able to spend about five per cent. And I keep looking at our historical contributions in the 1940s here in Oshawa regarding vehicle production for our war effort. We can do it again.”
This isn’t the first time the idea of building military vehicles in Oshawa has come up. However, so far GM’s military division has not made any commitments. “GM Defense Canada is actively pursuing Canadian defense procurement opportunities, including the Government’s planned Light Utility Vehicle program, potentially powered by the heavy-duty Chevrolet Silverado platform built at Oshawa Assembly,” said GM Defense Manager Geoff Johnstone. “No decisions or agreements have been made.”
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