Massive EV Battery Factory Coming to St. Thomas Ontario

St. Thomas, Ontario, is about to become home to Canada’s largest electric vehicle (EV) battery plant — a $7-billion gigafactory from Volkswagen subsidiary PowerCo. Construction is set to kick off in the coming weeks, marking a historic moment for the town of roughly 43,000 residents and a major milestone in Canada’s clean energy manufacturing push.

Record-Breaking Scale and Timeline

The up-to-185,000-square-metre (two-million-square-foot) facility will be one of the largest automotive-related builds in the nation’s history. Groundbreaking for phase one is imminent, with site infrastructure already nearing completion. Once operational in 2027, the plant will produce EV battery cells to meet Volkswagen Group’s growing North American demand.

BlogTo reports that the initial construction phase will lay the foundation for large-scale production, with steel erection and building envelope work following shortly after. How quickly the plant expands will depend on market demand and trade conditions, but PowerCo’s leadership has confirmed it’s “full steam ahead” toward opening day.

Massive Job Creation

The gigafactory is expected to employ around 3,000 people directly and generate up to 30,000 spinoff jobs across Ontario. Positions will range from chemists and engineers to IT professionals, sustainability experts, and skilled trades.

Initial hires — more than 200 to date — are already working from a temporary office in downtown St. Thomas. The company plans to open a dedicated training facility to prepare front-line workers, with the bulk of hiring taking place in 2026.

Key Construction and Design Features

The project’s scale will require complex and highly coordinated construction efforts. Expected key components include:

• Massive production halls designed for high-volume EV battery cell manufacturing.

• Advanced material handling systems to streamline production.

• Specialized environmental controls to meet stringent clean energy production standards.

• Extensive electrical systems to power both production lines and advanced testing labs.

• Sustainable building practices aligned with Volkswagen’s global environmental goals.

Construction Trades in High Demand

This project will be a multi-year employment engine for the construction industry. Trades and specialties likely to be in high demand include:

• Site preparation and excavation crews to ready the vast footprint.

• Concrete forming and finishing teams for foundations and flooring.

• Structural steel workers for the frame and roof systems.

• Electrical and instrumentation technicians for complex power and control systems.

• Plumbing and HVAC installers for industrial-scale climate control.

• Roofing and cladding crews for weatherproofing and insulation.

• Interior finishing teams for offices, labs, and employee facilities.

• Landscaping and site services for final exterior works.

Economic and Community Impact

St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston describes the facility as a “fundamental transformation” for the community. The project is expected to boost not only local employment but also housing demand, retail activity, and municipal infrastructure investment.

While the recruitment focus will be local, PowerCo is also targeting talent from Windsor, the Greater Toronto Area, and even out-of-province regions.

Next Steps in the Build

Following groundbreaking, the immediate priorities will be:

1. Foundation work for the first production building.

2. Steel erection to create the plant’s main structural framework.

3. Building envelope construction to seal and weatherproof the facility.

4. Interior fit-outs to prepare production areas, offices, and training spaces.

By late 2026, the facility will begin equipment installation and production line testing, leading up to the anticipated production start in 2027.

Shaping the Future of EV Manufacturing in Canada

With Volkswagen’s commitment and Ontario’s strong manufacturing base, the St. Thomas gigafactory represents a pivotal shift toward clean energy production in Canada. For construction professionals, this is more than a jobsite — it’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity to help build the infrastructure for a new era in automotive manufacturing.