Ontario Construction News staff writer
Windsor council has approved lease terms, and a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Dongshin Motech Ltd. to build a facility needed to support a $5 billion electric vehicle (EV) battery production facility.
Dongshin will invest $60 million to build a 170,000-sq. ft. structure on 12 acres of land at the Windsor Airport to manufacture highly specialized aluminum casings for the electric vehicle batteries that will be produced at the LGES-Stellantis EV Battery Production Facility.
“To supply our local customers, we are pleased that Windsor will be the home of our first North American manufacturing facility,” said – Dongshin Motech Ltd. Chief Executive Officer, Choon Woo Lim. “Dongshin Motech has a history of producing highly specialized components to support global automotive clients, and we are pleased to bring our skills and expertise to Canada.”
Aluminum casings provide enclosure for the lithium-ion batteries and guarantee lightness and shock resistance, combined with the high thermal conduction needed for the battery temperature management system.
Mayor Drew Dilkens says the announcement confirms the city of Windsor as the premier Canadian destination for electric vehicle component manufacturing.
“We always knew that a significant supply chain would be necessary to support the massive investment that Stellantis and LGES are making in our community,” Dilkens said. “Dongshin Motech’s investment in our community proves that Windsor is on the move. We’re competing and we are winning the race to attract investment, create great local jobs and build an EV battery manufacturing base.”
As custodian of the Windsor Airport property, the city is able to service and market lands for long-term economic development activities ad council is focused on creating attracting strategic investments to build Windsor’s automotive and automobility manufacturing base. The proposed site is municipally serviced to the lot line, and local utilities have confirmed that more than adequate electricity supply exists to accommodate energy demand.
Dongshin Motech Ltd. is a South Korean–based business, with global manufacturing operations, specializing in automotive components. Founded in 1995, the firm now employs over 600 individuals in South Korea, Poland and India.