FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 23, 2022
MASSE WELCOMES NEW EV BATTERY FACILITY IN WINDSOR AS A GOOD START BUT MORE NEEDS TO DONE
(WINDSOR)- Today, Brian Masse MP (Windsor West) NDP Innovation, International Trade and automotive critic welcomed the new $4 billion joint-venture between Stellantis and LG Energy Solution Lithium-Ion battery production plant in Windsor, which would be the first of its kind in Canada.
“This investment is significant and necessary to help secure electric vehicle production in Windsor and in Canada. Battery production is like the power train of EVs and is essential to having the core supply chain. This demonstrates that Windsor’s work force is world class and that our local manufacturers from tool and mold to parts makers are global competitors. This was a long time in coming and all levels of
government have contributed but compared to what is happening in US and in Michigan in particular, the federal government needs to do more to secure several of these battery production plants,” stated Masse.
The federal and provincial governments announced details around a $4 billion joint-venture between Stellantis and LG Energy Solution for the first Lithium-Ion battery production plant in Canada. Construction of the facility in Windsor will begin almost immediately, with a desire to get operations up and running by early 2024. The operation will create an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 jobs direct jobs and thousands more in the supply chain.
In Michigan, Ford, GM, and Stellantis have made billions of investments in new electric vehicle and battery production facilities over the past several years. Other states such as Tennessee and Kentucky have secured multiple new battery production facilities from several automakers.
“This is a great day for Windsor, but it should have happened sooner. More than three years ago I asked the government to set up a task force to secure investments as the industry was transitioning to electric vehicles in what is a once-in-a-generation historic investment cycle by all automakers. Across the river they have had many of these investments for the past few years. We need a national strategy to secure many more of these battery production plants. I’d like to thank Minister Champagne for listening, hope he acts on needed initiatives such as the ev tax credits, and continues to work in collaboration so that Canada secures the future investment needed to restore the country’s place in the automotive sector,” stated Masse.
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For more information contact Mohummed Peer 519-982-8816