Federal and provincial governments announce $4.9 billion lithium-ion electric vehicle battery manufacturing plant in Windsor

On March 23, 2022, officials from the Canadian federal and Ontario provincial governments announced a $4.9 billion joint venture deal between automaker Stellantis NV and battery maker LG Energy Solutions to construct Canada's first lithium-ion electric vehicle (EV) battery plant in Windsor, Ontario. 

The construction of the 4.5 million square foot plant, set to have a production capacity of 45 gigawatt hours, involves grants from both the federal and provincial governments as well as tax deferrals and other incentives from the City of Windsor.

Susan Rosen and Peter Gross of Gowling WLG advised the City of Windsor in connection with the complex long term ground lease for the plant, which involved leasing, real estate title, easement, infrastructure, tax, environmental and development issues.