A London auto parts plant that supplies seats to the CAMI/BrightDrop vehicles is being shuttered. Magna Corporation issued a statement confirming that Qualtech Seating Systems is expected to be fully closed by Oct. 10. The statement, issued by vice president of corporate communications Tracy Fuerst, says 49 Qualtech employees will be affected. “We appreciate this decision is a difficult one for the valued and hard-working employees at Qualtech, and the Company is committed to working with the team through the plant closure process to help ensure a smooth transition,” according to the statement. In April, General Motors (GM) announced it was idling operations at the Ingersoll CAMI assembly plant until October. GM cited slow sales and an oversupply of vehicles as reasons for the pause in CAMI operations. UNIFOR 88 leadership, which represents unionized workers at the plant, cited U.S. tariffs as a contributing factor. The assembly plant will be reduced to a single shift with approximately 450 unionized workers when production resumes. An estimated 500 unionized workers will be indefinitely laid off.
