PowerCo Canada has appointed EllisDon to continue construction of its battery manufacturing facility in St. Thomas, Ontario. The appointment follows progress since the project’s groundbreaking in 2025 and moves construction into core infrastructure and structural phases intended to support future production.
Initial work covers the first development phase, including the production building’s shell and site-wide infrastructure. Construction also includes mechanical, electrical and plumbing installations, energy and utility systems, and supporting site services.
Approximately 60 EllisDon workers are currently on site. That workforce is expected to increase to roughly 1,300 workers at peak, alongside additional personnel working on parallel project activities. EllisDon said the project will create opportunities for skilled tradespeople, local businesses and communities across southwestern Ontario.
PowerCo is also aligning the project’s schedule and product strategy with changing market demand, technological developments and Volkswagen Group’s long-term strategy. The St. Thomas facility is now expected to begin operations in 2029, allowing it to accommodate next-generation battery technology. The company intends to retain flexibility to scale the plant over time as market conditions develop.
“The St. Thomas gigafactory remains a cornerstone of our North American strategy,” said Joel Karlsberg, Chief Procurement Officer at PowerCo Canada. Karlsberg said PowerCo is continuing construction while determining how and when to scale the facility, with the goal of protecting its long-term investment and supporting regional employment.
EllisDon will support the project’s delivery as construction advances through the structural and infrastructure stages. PowerCo said working with the contractor will allow construction to continue while maintaining flexibility to adjust the facility’s scale in line with market demand and longer-term changes in the battery industry.
Source: powerco.ca
