GM’s BrightDrop electric vans may not be done just yet. After nearly four months of uncertainty, an unexpected lifeline may be taking shape. GM had announced it would end production of the vans at its Ontario plant in Canada, effectively shutting down one of its more high-profile EV ventures. Now, a European engineering firm has reportedly shown interest in buying the facility and restarting production.

The company in question is Dumarey Group, a Belgium-based engineering and manufacturing firm. In 2020, Dumarey acquired GM’s propulsion engineering center in Turin, Italy, and now appears poised to deepen its relationship with the American automaker.

Read: GM And Stellantis Got The Cash, Now Canada Wants A Refund

According to a recent report, the group aims to build BrightDrop vans in Canada, then ship them across the Atlantic to European markets.

Limited details about the potential deal are known, but GM Authority reports the firm’s chief executive and founder, Guido Dumarey, plans to tour the Ingersoll plant soon.

A Fragile Hope for CAMI Employees

This could be great news for workers at the plant, many of whom have been facing an uncertain future since GM announced it would stop production. However, a significant number of the laid-off employees remain on GM’s callback list in case production resumes on a new vehicle at the CAMI facility. That means Dumarey would likely need to negotiate with GM to bring those workers on board.

Speaking with CTV News, Brendan Sweeney, managing director of a London-based non-profit agency, said Dumarey could be a good fit. However, he suspects it may only need a few hundred workers to handle production, meaning it’s unlikely the plant will return to the 3,000-strong workforce it had when it was building the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain.

“[Dumarey are] diversified,” Sweeney said. “They engage with a number of different technologies, including fuel cells, which is a really interesting play for Canada that, you know, might get a bit more gain more steam.”

The CAMI assembly plant began producing BrightDrop electric vans in 2022. Despite GM’s hopes, the program struggled to maintain momentum. Even after BrightDrop was folded into Chevrolet to bolster visibility and sales, the vans failed to establish a solid foothold in the EV delivery space.

President Trump has signed an executive order establishing Project Vault. It’s being billed as the critical materials equivalent of the strategic petroleum reserve.

Designed to ensure that American businesses and workers are never harmed by shortages of critical materials, the stockpile will be established by a $12 billion investment. It’s focused on rare earths and critical minerals, which have been dominated by China.

More: A Resource You’ve Probably Never Heard Of Is Quietly Crippling The Auto Industry

Things came to a head last year when China imposed export restrictions on rare earth elements in April. This forced a number of automakers and suppliers to scramble and some even had to temporarily stop production.

While the situation has improved significantly since those dire days, the United States has apparently decided they can’t depend on China.

Introducing Project Vault, a critical mineral stockpile for American businesses, unaffected by market disruptions. 💎🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Hd14JxujdP

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 2, 2026

The White House hasn’t released the wording of the executive order, as of this writing, but President Trump said $10 billion of funding will come from export-import bank financing, while another $2 billion will come from the private sector. He also claimed taxpayers could end up making a profit on the loan interest.

The president added the government is working to streamline the permitting process for mines and is signing major critical mineral deals with countries from all over the world.

GM CEO Mary Barra was on hand for the signing and Trump said she’s doing a “fantastic job.” Barra returned the compliment and said, “Having a resilient supply chain is critical for our nation and it’s critical for all industry, especially the auto industry.”

Things then got a little awkward as one of the attendees claimed that if Trump hadn’t been elected, the “auto industry in America would be over.” He also slammed Democrats and their electric vehicle ‘mandates,’ which is a bit ironic for a signing event that will presumably benefit EVs.

Update: The Export-Import Bank of the United States released new details about the “supply chain security initiative” that establishes a Strategic Critical Minerals Reserve. It will be an independently governed public‑private partnership, which will store essential raw materials in facilities across the United States.

Specifics are few and far between, but the bank said the move advances “U.S. economic and national security objectives by reducing dependence on foreign‑controlled supply chains, strengthening the domestic industrial base, and ensuring uninterrupted access to materials essential for advanced manufacturing and critical technologies.”

pic.twitter.com/71SqRqBQJS

— U.S. Export-Import Bank (@EximBankUS) February 2, 2026

Lead image Nissan

The Chinese-built Buick Envision got slammed by Trump’s tariffs and the company recently hiked prices by $3,000. This followed an earlier increase, which means the cost of entry has shot up $4,500 in less than a year.

As a result, the 2026 Envision now starts at $41,000 before a $1,995 destination fee. That’s pretty steep and the price increases appear to have started weighing on sales.

More: Buick’s Chinese-Built Envision Survives Trump’s Tariffs With A Massive Price Hike

While the model was only down 11.4 percent last year to 41,924 units, fourth quarter sales plummeted 60.9 percent. Even with the steep decline, the Envision finished the year as Buick’s third best-selling vehicle, accounting for just over a fifth of the brand’s total annual sales of 198,155 deliveries.

However, the situation was unsustainable and General Motors has effectively admitted as much. In a brief statement, the company said they’ll “onshore production of the next-generation Buick compact SUV to Fairfax Assembly in Kansas City, beginning in 2028.”

The automaker didn’t have much to say about the move, but stated the “decision further strengthens GM’s domestic manufacturing footprint and supports U.S. jobs, building on $5.5 billion in new investments announced across our U.S. manufacturing sites in the last year.”

We also asked whether the current model will remain on sale until its replacement arrives in 2028. A GM spokesperson told us, “We are working through the model transition plan”, a rather a noncommittal response that suggests the company isn’t ready to confirm details just yet.

Chevrolet Bolt Dies Soon

Interestingly, the announcement also revealed the impending death of the Chevrolet Bolt. While the EV was just relaunched, the company had previously referred to it as a “limited run model.”

They weren’t joking as Fairfax Assembly will be retooled to build the Chevrolet Equinox starting in 2027. This suggests the Bolt will only be sticking around for about a year.

The third-generation Envision will follow one year after the Equinox and this could hint at some commonality between the two models. This remains to be seen, but the bowtie brand’s crossover has a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder that develops 175 hp (131 kW / 177 PS) and up to 203 lb-ft (275 Nm) of torque. It’s connected to a continuously variable or eight-speed automatic transmission.

Western brands have been struggling in China, but GM is the rare exception as the company and its joint ventures delivered nearly 1.9 million vehicles last year. That was up 2.3 percent compared to 2024 and this was largely driven by sales of New Energy Vehicles such as the Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV, which found over 435,000 takers.

More: China’s New Cadillac XT5 Will Make You Jealous We Don’t Get It Here

GM is looking for continued success with the new Wuling Xingguang 560, which is a mid-size crossover that will be offered with gas, plug-in hybrid, and electric powertrains. The company said surprisingly little about the model, but it features a slender grille that is flanked by sweptback headlights with X-shaped daytime running lights.

They’re joined by a powertrain-specific front end, which is enclosed on electrified models and open on the ICE-powered variant.

Moving further back, we can see plastic body cladding and an available contrasting roof. Other highlights include stylish wheels, a liftgate-mounted spoiler, and X-like taillights. The model also has a rear pillar and window treatment that closely recalls the Subaru Forester.

How Big Is It?

In terms of size, the Xingguang 560 measures 186.8 inches (4,745 mm) long, 72.8 inches (1,850 mm) wide, and 69.1 inches (1,755 mm) tall with a wheelbase that spans 110.6 inches (2,810 mm). To put those numbers into perspective, the model is 3.6 inches (91 mm) longer than the Chevrolet Equinox and has an extra 3.1 inches (79 mm) between the wheels.

The interior has a minimalist design with a digital instrument cluster and an infotainment system that reportedly measures 12.8 inches. They’re accompanied by a two-spoke steering wheel, distinctive air vents, and a center console that appears to have a dual wireless smartphone charger.

Wuling was coy on specifics, but said the crossover offers up to 68.7 cubic feet (1,945 liters) of cargo room when the second-row is folded flat. They added the model has more than 25 storage compartments, including one hidden beneath the rear seats.

Powertrain Options

On the performance front, the Xingguang 560 will be offered with a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine that produces 174 hp (130 kW / 177 PS) and 214 lb-ft (290 Nm) of torque. It can be paired to either a six-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission.

Customers can also opt for a plug-in hybrid, which offers a WLTC combined range of up to 684 miles (1,100 km). Wuling didn’t elaborate, but an earlier report from CarNewsChina said this variant has a 1.5-liter engine and an electric-only range of 78 miles (125 km).

Last but not least, there’s a fully electric variant that has a CLTC range of up to 311 miles (500 km). It’s said to have a 60 kWh battery pack as well as an electric motor developing 134 hp (100 kW / 136 PS).

How Much Does It Cost?

To help promote the model’s launch, Wuling is offering introductory pricing that ranges from $8,581 (¥59,800) to $13,746 (¥95,800). After this offer expires, pricing will apparently climb to $9,155 – $14,751 (¥63,800 – ¥102,800).