Despite widespread pullout, Stellantis keeps 650 employees employed for EV research in Canada
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Could be a global car giant is selling its stake At a giant electric vehicle battery plant in Canada – but Stellantis isn’t abandoning electrification entirely.
When the company revealed this on Friday, there was a stir in the automotive world. 22 billion euros The setback came as a result of the widespread failure of its once-ambitious electric vehicle plans.
“The reset we have announced today is part of a decisive process we have launched in 2025, so that we can once again make our customers and their priorities our guiding star,” CEO Antonio Filosa said in a statement. statement.
The automaker also announced plans to sell its 49 percent stake in NextStar Energy, the joint venture it formed with South Korean battery maker LG Energy Solution to build a $5 billion battery facility in Windsor, Ontario.
But locally and beyond, the company isn’t abandoning low-emission technology entirely. Stellantis says it has hired hundreds of engineers in Windsor in recent years, most of whom are working on EV and battery technology research.
Stellantis’ commitment to retain employees in Canada’s car capital follows Concern about the future of the country’s automotive sector The cross-border trade continues largely due to the Trump administration’s tariffs on the industry, but also due to the changing market for EVs in North America.
Back in 2022, Stellantis announces $3.6 billion investment at its Ontario operations to transition to EV production. The federal and provincial governments said they would jointly contribute up to $1 billion in public funding.
The money was for the Windsor and Brampton assembly plants, but also for Stellantis’ Automotive Research and Development Center (ARDC) in Windsor.
“Stelantis’ investment in (ARDC) will support the construction of a state-of-the-art battery pack testing facility for North America, further securing Canada’s position as a leader in EV innovation,” Prime Minister’s Office said In those days.
Stellantis shook up Windsor’s auto landscape on Friday with the revelation that it is selling its stake in a Nextstar Energy battery plant. But the global carmaker is not backing down from all EV initiatives, including its battery research facility. CBC Windsor’s Emma Loop explains.
Since then, Stellantis says it has hired 650 people as part of the ARDC expansion, bringing the total number of employees to 800 — and none of those jobs will be affected by Friday’s news, a spokesperson says.
“There is no change to the electrification/battery testing work being conducted at ARDC related to the Nextstar Energy announcement,” Lou Ann Gosselin, head of communications for Stellantis in Canada, said in an email.
“Our engineering team at ARDC has a role in the development and testing of nearly every Stellantis vehicle sold in North America and many vehicles sold around the world,” he wrote. “Their work spans all powertrains, not just EVs.”
The battery lab is still underway, Gosselin said, and will be the first of its kind in North America, “following the company’s announcement of setting up a similar center in Turin, Italy.”
The facility will be a state-of-the-art technology center for the development and validation of “advanced” battery cells, modules and packs for battery-electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid-electric vehicles, he said.
Despite widespread fluctuations, the company continues to offer a range of powertrains on some of its vehicles – including windsor built dodge chargerWhich is available in both gas-powered and fully electric versions.
On Monday, Stellantis Too announced It is hiring for more than 20 new positions in sales and marketing across Canada.
A spokesperson said, “It’s going to be a big year for the company and this hire is an important moment as we grow our Canadian operations.”
