Ford Says VW’s 2-Year Delay on Ontario Battery Plant Isn’t a Concern

Premier Doug Ford stated that the two-year delay in opening the Volkswagen electric vehicle battery plant in St. Thomas, Ontario, should not be a cause for concern. The delay is partly attributed by PowerCo Canada to a cooling in consumer appetite for electric vehicles, with operations now expected to begin in 2029. EllisDon has been hired as the general contractor for the next construction phase.

• Premier Doug Ford believes the two-year delay for the Volkswagen electric vehicle battery plant in Ontario is not a cause for concern.
• PowerCo Canada attributes the delay at the $7 billion factory in St. Thomas, Ont., partly to a decrease in consumer demand for electric vehicles.
• The plant is now anticipated to start operations in 2029, with provisions for next-generation battery technology and future market-driven expansion.
• EllisDon has been appointed as the general contractor for the subsequent phase of construction.
• Ford expressed confidence that the plant, set to be Canada’s largest EV battery facility, will be completed within the revised timeline.