German auto giant Volkswagen says it's building a $7-billion plant in southwestern Ontario to manufacture batteries for electric vehicles, in what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calls a "win for workers, for the community and for the economy."
The company made the announcement Friday in St. Thomas — where the plant will be located — with Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford in attendance, as well as other provincial and federal politicians. St. Thomas has a population of 43,000 and is located some 30 minutes south of London.
PowerCo SE, Volkswagen's battery company, will operate the plant, its largest manufacturing facility to date. It's expected to produce batteries for a million electric vehicles each year, when it opens in 2027.