Magna Worldwide Inc., dedicated Feb. 15 to investing $470 million to open a brand new battery enclosures plant in Brampton, Ont., in addition to broaden 5 of its different auto components manufacturing services unfold all through southern Ontario. 

The spending will create greater than 1,000 new jobs throughout the six websites, whereas permitting Magna to maintain up with sturdy buyer demand throughout a number of new and current product traces, mentioned Eric Wilds, the corporate’s chief gross sales and advertising and marketing officer. 

“Magna’s roots in Ontario run deep, and we’re enthusiastic about opening a brand new facility devoted to a strategic electrification product,” he mentioned in a launch. 

The brand new battery enclosures plant within the metropolis northwest of Toronto will cowl practically 500,000 square-feet (45,000 square-metres) and make use of 560 workers as soon as ramped as much as full capability. It should construct light-weight aluminum battery enclosures for the Ford F-150 Lightning, in addition to future electrical fashions deliberate for the U.S. automaker’s Oakville Meeting Complicated.

John O’Hara, president of Magna’s physique and chassis division Cosma, informed Automotive Information Canada the brand new Brampton plant will provide enclosures for the “third tranche” of the F-150 Lightning program over a roughly two-year interval. A Magna plant in St. Thomas, outdoors London, Ont. is already constructing the part for the primary two phases of this system, he added.

The Aurora, Ont.-based provider introduced it could construct the enclosures for the brand new electrified Ford pickup in late 2021. A significant part in all battery-electric automobiles, the housings shield high-voltage batteries, electrical elements and sensors from the weather.

Magna’s new Brampton plant will then shift its focus to Oakville. 

O’Hara mentioned the location will “ramp up” battery enclosure manufacturing for the Ford Explorer and Aviator packages destined for the meeting plant southwest of Toronto in 2024.

Ford has not formally confirmed the 2 fashions for the plant, however in 2020 it pledged to spend $1.8 billion in Oakville to start constructing unnamed battery-electric automobiles beginning in 2024.

In November, business analyst Sam Fiorani mentioned his forecast has totally electrical variations of the Explorer and Aviator booked for Oakville. The vice-president of worldwide car forecasting at U.S.-based AutoForecast Options, mentioned he expects manufacturing of the 2 SUVs will begin in Oakville in 2024 following a retooling challenge.

Together with the F-150 Lightning, Magna has received battery enclosure provide contracts for the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Hummer EV. Enclosures for these fashions might be constructed at one other new Magna facility in St. Clair, Mich., about 50 miles (80 kilometres) north of Detroit. 

The corporate’s official checklist of battery enclosure contract wins ends there, however O’Hara mentioned there are extra “within the pipeline.”

Magna’s spending on the brand new Brampton plant accounts for $265 million of the practically half-billion-dollar funding, in line with the Ontario ministry of financial growth, job creation and commerce. The ability is scheduled to start producing battery enclosures within the second quarter of this yr. 

‘ONTARIO BACK ON THE MAP’

Ontario Premier Doug Ford mentioned the spending by the homegrown auto components large is “one other super present of confidence” within the province’s auto sector. 

“Collectively, with our business companions, we’re placing Ontario again on the map as we construct up Ontario’s electrical car provide chain from mining to manufacturing,” he mentioned in a launch. 

Ontario contributed $23.6 million to the six-plant capital spending program.  

Along with the funding in Brampton, Magna will add new capabilities to vegetation in Belleville, Guelph, Newmarket, Penetanguishene and Windsor. 

The most important of those tasks will happen in Guelph, the place Magna is planning a 120,000-square-foot (11,000 square-metre) enlargement to an current exteriors plant. The work will add e-coat, molding and welding capability, whereas creating 175 new jobs. As with in Brampton, manufacturing is anticipated to start out within the second quarter of this yr. 

Magna operates 49 manufacturing vegetation in Canada, using greater than 20,000 employees. It ranks No. 4 on the Automotive Information checklist of the highest 100 international suppliers.