Production of the 2026 Chevy BrightDrop has been pushed back. The all-electric delivery van’s 2026 model year was originally set to hit production on July 14th, 2025, as GM Authority covered previously. Now, GM Authority has learned that 2026 Chevy BrightDrop production will begin in October, instead.
As covered last month, GM has initiated a round of layoffs at the GM CAMI assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, last month. Vehicle production is expected to be idled until October for retooling in preparation for production of the 2026 model year. CAMI assembly serves as the sole production site of the Chevy BrightDrop electric commercial van. When production resumes at CAMI assembly this coming October, the facility is expected to operate at only a single shift, with nearly 500 workers laid off indefinitely.
Chevy BrightDrop production has been a somewhat rocky affair since the first units rolled off the line at CAMI in late 2022. Since then, the ongoing trade war initiated by tariffs implemented by the Trump administration, as well as easing emission standards, has resulted in even more uncertainty.
When the 2026 Chevy BrightDrop rolls out in October, customers will have two configurations to choose from, including the short-wheelbase BrightDrop 400 and the long-wheelbase BrightDrop 600. For the moment, the 2026 Chevy BrightDrop is not expected to debut any major changes compared to the preceding 2025 model year. At this time, it’s unlikely that the 2026 model year will transition the 2026 Chevy BrightDrop to the North American Charging Standard (NACS), rather than the Combined Charging System (CCS) port used currently.
GM previously stated that it would transition its EVs to NACS in conjunction with the 2026 model year, but the automaker later stated that NACS would be introduced on only some 2026 model-year vehicles. For the moment, the 2026 Cadillac Vistiq and 2026 Cadillac Lyriq-V are still equipped with a CCS charger.
Comments
With pictures of endless acres of unsold Bright Drops on line it is obvious why production is delayed. This vehicle has turned out to be a financial disaster. My cousin got fired from a major corporation for making a $10,000 mistake why hasn’t someone been sacked at GM for making a $100,000,000 mistake. A mistake an old retired Pipe fitter warned them about two years ago.
Duh, makes sense when you can sell the ones already built. Scrap the batteries and put that body on a Silverado chassis with an ICE with a reasonable price and it will sell.