Korean EV parts manufacturer announces Windsor expansion plans
Korean EV parts manufacturer Bobaek America Inc. has chosen to build a two-phase, $65-million plant project in Windsor.
The company announced the news on December 11. The first phase of the project, which is already underway, sees Bobaek America invest $35 million in a facility that specializes in battery insulation panels and cell sheets for EVs. Bobaek’s investment marks the company’s first entry into the North American EV supply chain and will create 144 new jobs in the region.
The 71,000-square-foot plant is located near Windsor Airport. Construction is scheduled to be completed by June 2024.
The facility will include state-of-the-art equipment to produce the insulation panels and cell sheets needed for EV batteries, including pressure moulding and sensor cutting machines, tape assembly, silicon pad cutting and packing automation lines, and 3D measuring equipment.
As part of the investment, the provincial government will provide $1.5 million in funding through the Regional Development Program’s Southwestern Ontario Development Fund.
“Our government continues to build up Ontario’s auto and manufacturing sectors by creating the right conditions to attract multi-national companies,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “Bobaek’s investment will serve as a critical link in building our end-to-end EV and battery supply chain, affirming Ontario’s position as a leader in building the cars of the future.”
The second phase of the project calls for a further $25 million to $30 million to be spent on a second 71,000-square foot plant adjacent to the first.
“We are pleased to announce that Bobaek is establishing its first North American manufacturing hub in Windsor, Ontario,” said Dongjo Seo, President of Bobaek C&S Headquarters. “The plant’s output should be able to cover the entire North American market.”
Through its Regional Development Program, the province has provided more than $120 million to support more than 100 projects, leveraging more than $1.2 billion in new investments and helping to create more than 2,300 jobs.