Windsor has added another key piece to its growing battery supply chain with the announcement Monday that Korean electric vehicle parts manufacturer Bobaek America has selected the city for a two-phase project that will see $60 million to $65 million invested with the creation of 214 jobs.
The first phase is a 71,000-square-foot plant located behind the FedEx Shipping Centre near Windsor Airport. The $35-million facility, which is already under construction, is scheduled to be completed by June 2024 and will create 144 initial jobs.
The state-of-the-art plants will produce the insulation panels and cell sheets needed for electric vehicle batteries. That production will also include pressure moulding and sensor cutting machines, tape assembly, silicon pad cutting and packing automation lines, and 3D measuring equipment.
“We chose Windsor because it’s where our customer NextStar Energy is located, but is also close to our other customers LG Energy Solution and Samsung SDI in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan,” said Bobaek America president Jae-Hwa Moon, who attended the Monday announcement at the Automobility and Innovation Centre.
“We also chose Windsor because of the supports available. The City of Windsor’s community improvement program, supports from Invest WindsorEssex and the provincial and federal governments.”
Bobaek America will be a subsidiary of the Korean firm Bobaek C&S.
There are 11 battery plants under construction or announced and another four battery research and development facilities, two of which local, that are located within approximately 200 kilometres of Windsor.
Moon added the company expects the Windsor operation to generate $70 million in sales in 2026 just for Phase 1 of the operation. Similar numbers are expected from the second phase.
Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Vic Fedeli was in Windsor Monday to make the announcement and confirm the provincial government is providing $1.5 million in funding through the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund.
“Our government continues to build up Ontario’s auto and manufacturing sectors by creating the right conditions to attract multinational companies,” said Fedeli.
“With support from the province’s regional development program, Bobaek’s investment will serve as a critical link in building our end-to-end EV and battery supply chain, affirming Ontario’s position as a leader in building the cars of the future,” the minister said.
Fedeli noted that Ontario has seen $27 billion in electric vehicle investment in the past three years. However, he expects Ontario to see even more investment this year.
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said this latest investment, along with a local pipeline that remains filled with billions more in potential new companies, reinforces his position that he’s never been more optimistic about the area’s future.
However, he also pointed out that the city has to continue to “make its own luck” by being prepared to take advantage of the opportunities being presented.
“It’s a multi-stage process and we have to start today,” Dilkens said. “If we don’t start today, we’re going to run out of land at the airport.
“We know there’s a war for talent around the world. We know Bobaek wouldn’t come here if they were not confident we could supply that talent.
“We have to continue to produce the talent that matches with the jobs that are coming.”
