Ontario based Magna International announced it has broken ground on a new electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing facility in St. Clair, Michigan.
The 345,000 square foot facility, named Magna Electric Vehicle Structures, will manufacture complex battery enclosures for the upcoming GMC Hummer. Future phases could add another 1,000,000 square feet.
In a press release, the company said the battery enclosures built at the new facility will add to the “structural and safety aspects of a vehicle’s frame and protects high-voltage batteries from damage and water.”
“Bringing this new battery enclosure technology to market is another example of Magna’s ability to deliver a full-system solution to automakers supporting their focus on a lower emissions future,” said John Farrell, President of Cosma International, Magna’s body and chassis group. “The move toward electrification allows us to rethink what is possible and demonstrate how we can leverage our core strengths to continue bringing customers innovative solutions that help them meet their goals, no matter how challenging.”
Construction is expected to be complete by the end of the year, with production beginning in early 2022. It will be Magna’s 25th manufacturing facility in Michigan.
