Stellantis eyeing Canada as possible destination for electric vehicle battery plant
Automaker Stellantis -- formerly Fiat Chrysler Automobiles -- is narrowing down on two locations in North America to build a new electric vehicle battery plant to use in their next generation of electric vehicles.
“At least from those two, at least one will be in the U.S., perhaps two, it’s not decided yet,” Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said during a fireside chat Wednesday. “But there is also an option that one of the two will be in Canada.”
Tavares said the company is engaged in high-level discussions with local authorities and technology partners to pick their sites, as the automaker ramps up plans for production of a number of electric vehicles as part of its planned $44.5 billion investment in low-emission cars.
“We are ready to push the button, we just need to finalize a few discussions to make it legally binding,” he said.
Efforts to land an electric vehicle manufacturing facility have been ongoing in Windsor-Essex for some time, but they have now swung into high gear.
“We have a good case and I think we have a competitive case on a global basis,” said Invest WindsorEssex CEO Stephen MacKenzie.
Dave Cassidy of Unifor Local 444 believes the region is well-positioned to land the investment, which some estimate could be valued at $2 billion.
“It’s a no brainer to me,” Cassidy told CTV News Thursday, upon hearing about the potential investment in Canada -- and more specifically, in Windsor-Essex. “We have the people, we have the skill sets, we have what’s needed, right here in Windsor.”
The president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association of Canada (APMA) says Ontario and Quebec have the raw materials to make it happen without having to bring them across the border in raw form, adding Windsor’s location and automotive history make the region a very strong candidate.
“The best place to be doing these things is at the closest point to the border while still having that all on the Canadian side,” Flavio Volpe says.
Invest Windsor-Essex has been engaged in discussions with all levels of government -- and multiple companies about setting up shop locally.
On Thursday, Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra was in Windsor touring Invest WindsorEssex’s Virtual Reality CAVE, which is designed to support connected and autonomous vehicle development.
MacKenzie says the federal and provincial governments will play a key role in any future investment in a battery plant and the two discussed the latest developments from Stellantis during the visit.
“To get a plant, is it a priority? Is it number one on my wish list? 100 per cent right, it is,” MacKenzie said, adding if these attempts are fruitful, another two billion dollars in supply chain investments could follow, along with thousands of jobs.
“If you’re able to land one of these because of your business case and it makes sense to the companies, the supply chain that comes with it is transformational,” said MacKenzie. “It will change this region.”
Tavares indicated a decision will be made by the end of 2021, leading APMA’s president to make a bold prediction.
Back in 2020, the automaker committed to spending up to $1.5 bilion to retool the Windsor Assembly Plant to build plug-in and hybrid electric minivans by 2024, which would bring back about 2,000 jobs and the recently eliminated third shift.
“I won’t be surprised by the time the dust settles a few years from now, Windsor’s got a couple battery plants,” Volpe said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6978649.1722015109!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Missing 3-year-old boy found dead in creek in Mississauga, Ont.: police
A three-year-old boy has been found dead a day after he went missing in a park in Mississauga, Ont., Peel police say.
Celine Dion delivers stirring comeback performance at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Against the rainy Paris night sky, Celine Dion staged the comeback of her career with a powerful performance from the Eiffel Tower to open the Olympic Games.
Jasper wildfire: 'Several weeks' before residents can return, premier says
Premier Danielle Smith said Friday afternoon in Hinton while weather conditions are cooler, the Jasper fire is still considered out of control and that Jasper residents can expect to be away from their homes 'for several weeks.'
Irish museum pulls Sinead O'Connor waxwork after just one day due to backlash
An Irish museum will withdraw a waxwork of singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor just one day after installing it, following a backlash from her family and the public, it told CNN in a statement on Friday.
Winnipeg senior's account overdrawn for $146,000 water bill
A Winnipeg senior is getting soaked with a six-figure water bill.
FBI says Trump was indeed struck by bullet during assassination attempt
Nearly two weeks after Donald Trump’s near assassination, the FBI confirmed Friday that it was indeed a bullet that struck the former president’s ear, moving to clear up conflicting accounts about what caused the former U.S. president’s injuries after a gunman opened fire at a Pennsylvania rally.
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.
Turpel-Lafond won't sue CBC over Cree heritage report that took 'heavy toll': lawyer
The lawyer for a former judge whose claims to be Cree were questioned in a CBC investigation says his client is not considering legal action against the broadcaster after the Law Society of British Columbia this week backed her claims of Indigenous heritage.
Major Canadian bank experiences direct deposit outage on payday
Scotiabank says it has fixed a technical issue that impacted direct deposits on Friday morning.