The Ontario government says the opening of a new electric vehicle battery manufacturing facility in Windsor represents a major step for the province’s automotive and advanced manufacturing sector.
According to the province, NextStar Energy has officially opened its 4.23 million square foot battery manufacturing facility, described as Canada’s first commercial scale advanced battery plant.
The project represents a five billion dollar investment and is expected to create up to 2,500 direct jobs once the facility reaches full operational capacity.
Ontario says production at the plant began in November 2025, and the company has already hired more than 1,300 workers, with roughly 1,200 additional jobs expected as operations expand.
The facility produces lithium ion battery cells used in electric vehicles as well as other high energy technologies, including large scale energy storage systems.
The Ontario government says the project is part of broader efforts to strengthen the province’s role in the global electric vehicle supply chain.
Officials say Ontario has attracted more than 213 billion dollars in investment since 2018, including over 46 billion dollars tied to vehicle manufacturing and EV battery supply chains.
Manufacturing remains a major part of Ontario’s economy, employing more than 800,000 workers across the province.
The NextStar Energy project was first announced in 2022 through a partnership between the Ontario and federal governments as part of efforts to modernize the province’s automotive sector.
The province says investments in EV battery production and advanced manufacturing are intended to help secure future jobs, strengthen supply chains and position Ontario as a leader in emerging transportation technologies.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)