A first battery factory for electric vehicles will be set up in Canada.
Stellantis, which includes Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram brands, is partnering with LG Energy Solution to build this facility in Windsor, Ontario, starting this summer. The project is valued at more than $5 billion and is the largest private investment in the province’s history, according to local elected officials.
The three levels of government have announced the granting of incentives totaling hundreds of millions of dollars for its realization. Stellantis will take care of the construction, while LG Energy Solution will take care of the operations.
The plant is expected to be three million square feet and employ some 2,500 people. Ready to start operations in the winter of 2024, it will have an annual capacity of at least 45 GWh, making it one of the largest battery factories in North America.
Jeep will launch its first all-electric SUV in early 2023 and aims to offer at least one zero-emissions option in each of its slots by 2025. An all-electric Ram pickup truck and Dodge sports car are expected to hit the market in 2024. Chrysler will release its Airflow electric crossover in 2025 and plans to sell only battery-powered vehicles by 2028.
Photo: Jeep
Overall, the goal is for 50% of Stellantis sales in North America to be electric vehicles by 2030.
Earlier this month, General Motors and POSCO Chemical announced the upcoming construction of a $500 million plant in Bécancour that will manufacture active cathode materials for GM’s Ultium batteries. This technology will find its way into vehicles like the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Hummer EV and Cadillac LYRIQ.
Last November, the mayor of Markham, Ontario, revealed on Twitter that Tesla plans to soon open a factory there that will produce state-of-the-art equipment that will then be used to manufacture batteries in Tesla’s famous “Gigafactories” across the country. world. No official announcement has yet been made by the Californian manufacturer.
In short, things are moving a lot in the field of electric vehicles and Canada will be called upon to play a greater role in the years to come.