A Big Three automaker has announced a major commitment to the future of the auto industry in Ontario.
Stellantis has agreed to invest $3.6-billion in its Windsor Assembly Plant and its facility in Brampton. It is the first step toward creating a vertically-integrated electric vehicle supply chain.
The announcement was made Monday afternoon by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, representatives from Stellantis, federal Cabinet members, and representatives from the Ontario government.
Trudeau called the investment a huge step forward for Canada to become a world leader in clean energy vehicles.
"When we attract investments to Canada, like we've done this spring with Stellantis, but also with GM, Honda, and more; when we make it more affordable to buy electric vehicles...when we tap into Canada's critical mineral resources that go into batteries, we invest in clean air, we invest in a strong economy, and we invest not just in strong middle-class jobs, but strong middle-class careers," said Trudeau.
The premier also referred to the investment as the climax of years of negotiations with automakers to bring electric vehicle production to Ontario.
"Ontario has everything it needs to be North America’s auto manufacturing powerhouse once again," said Ford. "Where other governments stood by and watched jobs flee this province, we are getting it done and ensuring that cars of the future are made in Ontario by Ontario workers."
As part of its Ontario investment, Stellantis will build a new, multi-energy assembly line at the Windsor plant, which will pave the way for the automaker to introduce electric vehicle models. This investment will complement Stellantis' recent announcement of a new electric vehicle battery facility in Windsor, a joint $5-billion commitment with LG Energy Solutions.
Federal Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Francois-Philippe Champagne confirmed Monday that both plants will eventually return to a full-tilt three-shift operation. Currently, Windsor Assembly is operating two shifts through at least the end of 2022.
The investment is music to the ears of Unifor, whose Local 444 members work at Windsor. Unifor Local 444 President David Cassidy said nearly 2,000 plant workers should be returning to the plant, hopefully in a few months once the plant is retooled. He added that the Windsor plant has more space available to build more vehicles.
"We can always take more because our plant can build 400,000 vehicles a year at full capacity and we're not there. So, there's a lot of room still," said Cassidy.
Cassidy said it's emotional because the investment means future generations in Windsor-Essex will have job security for a long time.
"People don't know how big this investment is. This investment is going to secure the future of the auto industry here in Canada," he added.
Windsor-Tecumseh MP Irek Kusmierczyk said local youth have bright futures, something that couldn't be said a few years ago.
"A few years ago it hard talking about the future here. Our community was busy fighting for its life. Fighting every day just to keep plants open. To keep young people here," said Kusmierczyk.
Stellantis North American COO Mark Stewart lauded the collaboration with all three levels of government, and said the company's ultimate goal is to target 53 per cent of the company's sales toward electric vehicles by 2030. He said Monday that an announcement on which plants will build which vehicles has not been determined.
Monday's announcement also brought news of a new assembly line at the Brampton plant to produce electric and low-emission vehicles.
- with files from Paul Pedro and Millar Hill