Gigafactory
EV News

The St. Thomas Battery Cell Gigafactory is on the way

EV News

The St. Thomas Battery Cell Gigafactory is on the way

O’ Canada, we’re fully charged for thee. On April 21, 2023, Volkswagen Group and PowerCo SE came together with the Government of Canada, Ontario and the municipal government to announce more exciting details for its first ever North American EV battery cell gigafactory, right here in St. Thomas, Ontario.

All the electrifying gigafactory details

Gigafactory

We’ve got the power

The St. Thomas Gigafactory will have six production blocks with a potential production volume of up to 90 gigawatt hours – enough for about 1 million EVs a year. Canada is about to literally lead the charge in our battery cell production.

Largest. Gigafactory. Ever.

Not only will this be PowerCo SE’s first ever cell factory in North America, it might just be their largest ever. We’re talking the size of 210 football fields just for the factory alone. The entire industrial park itself will span an area of 850 football fields. 

Powered up work force

Generating 90 gigawatt hours is pretty cool. Generating an entire workforce, that’s just amazing. The St. Thomas Gigafactory will create up to 3,000 new, highly qualified jobs. Plus, it has the potential to create up to tens of thousands more indirect jobs at construction companies, suppliers, partners, along with local retail and other sectors.

Charging up our lineups

The Volkswagen Group has plans to introduce more than 25 new EV models by 2030. That’s a lot of battery cells. Want to guess where most of those cells will come from? That’s right – St. Thomas, Ontario. 

Go ahead and check out this press releaseOpen external link for more details and see what Volkswagen, PowerCo SE, and government leaders have to say about this historic accouncement.

About PowerCo SE

PowerCo SE was founded by Volkswagen in 2022 with a clear vision to lead the charge in battery cell production on a global scale. PowerCo SE have made plans for three gigafactories – including the St. Thomas Gigafactory – with two of them now under construction. PowerCo SE are also in development of their own, cutting-edge cell format. In just over a year, PowerCo SE are already well on their way to becoming a global battery powerhouse. 

Gigafactory

Connect with the EV community

Be the first to hear about our electric future, with sneak peek of new ID. models, newsworthy insights, and other electrifying details delivered right to your inbox.

Or, join our Facebook community group, ID. Insider.Open external link

What's next?

Disclaimers by Volkswagen

  •  Prices shown are MSRP where indicated. MSRP is the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price and excludes taxes, freight, and PDI ($1,850 (Jetta and Jetta GLI), $1,900 (Golf GTI and Golf R), and $2,050 (Tiguan, Taos, Cross Sport, Atlas, ID.4), levies, fees, optional equipment, license, insurance, registration, and any dealer or other charges (where applicable). If MSRP is not mentioned, prices shown include freight and PDI, environmental levies, and a $500 representative dealer admin fee (actual fee amount is set by dealers and varies, up to $500). Dealer Administration Fee includes documentation and administration costs related to the delivery of the vehicle, such as the dealer cost involved in licensing, lien search, and contract administration. Environmental or related levies and taxes may vary by jurisdiction. Dealer may sell for less. Prices are in Canadian dollars. This is not an offer to sell at a certain price. Actual selling prices and terms are set by dealers. European or American models may be shown. Specifications, equipment, options, and prices are subject to change without notice. Although we endeavour to ensure that the information contained on the website is accurate, as errors may occur from time to time, customers should contact their local Volkswagen dealer for details. Photos for illustration purposes only. Some items, such as wheels, may be unavailable on some trim levels when vehicle is built or may not be available in Canada.
  • Due to supply chain disruptions, certain trim levels may not be readily available and require a factory order from your Volkswagen dealer. Wait times will vary as a result of these supply chain disruptions, with current lead time for factory orders estimated between 6 – 8 months for most models, and approximately 18 months for the ID.4, subject to change without notice. Actual delivery dates could be affected by various factors beyond Volkswagen Canada’s and Volkswagen Canada Dealer’s control. Volkswagen Canada or Volkswagen Dealers will not be liable for any such delay in delivery. Supply chain disruptions can cause changes in available standard and/or optional equipment. The MSRP for a vehicle will be adjusted if specific equipment is not included. Please contact your dealer for more information.