Contract manufacturer Magna International shared plans to invest over $470 million to expand its existing operations across Ontario, Canada, expecting to create over 1,000 new jobs. In addition to the expansion of five of its current facilities in Canada, Magna will lease a battery enclosure plant to support the production of the Ford F-150 Lightning and future EVs from other OEMS.
Magna International is a globally recognized automotive contract manufacturer with over 130 production and assembly facilities across North America, Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa. Its Steyr plant is currently home to the assembly of the Fisker Ocean, which began production this past November.
Last fall, we covered news that Magna was investing over $500 million to expand its existing US footprint of 32 plants and 10,000 jobs operating in Michigan alone. Plans included the expansion of battery enclosure manufacturing in St. Clair, in addition to new facilities to build powertrains in Shelby Township and seating components in Detroit.
Earlier this week, we learned that Magna will be building the battery enclosures for GM’s upcoming Chevy Silverado EV in Michigan ahead of production later this year. Up North in Magna’s native Canada, the contract manufacturer is injecting millions into its existing plants to further support booming EV production.
Additionally, it will establish a new facility to build more EV battery enclosures for OEMs, beginning with its Michigan neighbor Ford and its ultrapopular F-150 Lightning pickup.
A rendering of Magna’s new battery enclosure plant planned for Brampton, Ontario / Credit: Magna International
Magna to invest over $470 million in Canadian plants
The contract manufacturer shared details of how its latest massive investment in expanded production will break down, including the planned Heart Lake facility in Brampton, Ontario, as seen in the rendering above. Magna chief sales and marketing officer, Eric Wilds, spoke to the plant expansion plans and the 1,000+ jobs they will create in the coming years:
Magna’s roots in Ontario run deep, and we are excited about opening a new facility dedicated to a strategic electrification product. The Brampton facility, coupled with investment and growth in five existing Ontario facilities, allows Magna to keep up with customer demands across several product areas. We are excited to bring new business, more investment and additional jobs to Ontario.
In Canada alone, Magna International is operating 49 manufacturing plants that hum, thanks to 18,500 employees. The company said it is already hiring for various positions as it works to expand the facilities below. Here’s how the investment and expansion will break down:
Brampton – Lease the aforementioned 490,000 square-foot facility for EV battery enclosure manufacturing. Operations to begin in Q2, 2023 with approximately 560 new jobs expected when the site reaches full production.
Guelph – Add e-coat, molding, and welding capacity to existing exteriors plant to further support new EV production. Expansion will total 120,000 square feet and will create about 175 new jobs. Production is expected to begin in Q2, 2023.
Belleville – Magna will add roughly 100 jobs to its lighting plant by bolstering printed circuit board assembly capabilities. Operations planned to begin in Q4, 2023.
Newmarket – Grow its mechatronics business (side door latches, electronic control units, and power systems), expected to create about 75 new jobs.
Windsor – Magna’s other mechatronics plant is in the process of adding powered aluminum tonneau cover manufacturing and plans to add approximately 110 new jobs.
Penetanguishene: Expand tailgate hinge production with over 15 new jobs planned.
As you can see, some of Magna’s plant expansions are already underway, and all are expected to be complete before the end of 2023. Canada’s minister of economic development, job creation, and trade, Vic Fedeli, welcomed Magna’s latest investment in the country and the new careers it will support:
This game-changing investment by Magna will create hundreds of new jobs across the province, while further strengthening Ontario’s end-to-end automotive supply chain. We’re creating the right conditions for businesses to succeed and continue to work around the clock to attract new investments that build a stronger economy.
With these expansions in the US and Canada, Magna remains the largest contract manufacturer on the continent and one of the biggest around the globe.
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Fleet electrification expert Tony Nisam took to LinkedIn yesterday to post a deal that he ran across at a Washington State Costco that stacks a $25,500 manufacturer rebate with $3,000 in “regular” Costco Member Savings, $2,750 in “LIMITED-TIME” Manufacturer to Member Incentives, plus an additional $250 for Costco Executive members.
Do a bit of math (add up 25,500 + 3,000 + $2,750 + 250), and you’ll calculate an almost unheard of $31,500 discount on one of the best, most capable commercial vans on the market – ICE or electric. And that’s before you factor in the 0% interest financing (72 mo.) being advertised at Blade Chevrolet, the Mount Vernon, Washington, where VIN 2G58J2TY6S9104313 (the exact van shown, below) is shown as stock number 16757.
If you’re not a Costco member yet and you’re looking for a new truck for your business or even a unique #vanlife ride with zero emissions, modern tech, and a nationwide dealer network, GM makes that $130 Executive membership seem like a no-brainer.
Is a $39,000 price cut enough to get you to take a look at a new Brightdrop? At $45,235 (from a starting price of $84,235), can you afford not to? Head down to the comments and let us know.
Tesla has quietly removed the Cybertruck’s range extender from the options in its online configurator.
Does Tesla still plan to bring the product to market?
When Tesla unveiled the production version of the Cybertruck in late 2023, there were two main disappointments: the price and the range.
The tri-motor version, which was the most popular in reservation tallies, was supposed to have over 500 miles of range and start at $70,000.
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Tesla now sells the tri-motor Cybertruck for $100,000 and only has a range of 320 miles.
As for the dual-motor Cybertruck, it was supposed to cost $50,000 and have over 300 miles of range. The reality is that it starts at $80,000, and it has 325 miles of range.
However, Tesla had devised a solution to bring the range closer to what it originally announced: a separate battery pack that sits in the truck’s bed. Tesla called it a “range extender.” It costs $16,000 and takes up a third of the Cybertruck’s bed.
Even though the Cybertruck has been in production for a year and a half at this point, the range extender has yet to launch.
At the time, Tesla also reduced the range that the removable battery pack adds to the Cybertruck to “445+ miles” rather than “470+ miles” for the dual motor – a ~25-mile reduction in range.
Now, Tesla has removed the option from its online Cybertruck configurator. It used to take reservations for the range extender with a “$2,000 non-refundable deposit”, as seen on the image above, but now it’s not in the configurator at all at the time of writing.
It’s unclear if Tesla is not planning to launch the product anymore or if it is just pausing reservations.
In its specs page, Tesla still lists the achievable range of both versions of the Cybertruck with and without the range extender battery:
Electrek’s Take
I’m curious. Is it dead, or does Tesla just want to stop taking reservations for it?
At first, I was curious about the product even though I didn’t think it would make up for Tesla’s significant miss on Cybertruck specs.
However, after it was confirmed that it takes up 30% of your bed and that it needs to be installed and removed by Tesla at a service center, I think it’s pretty much dead on arrival at $16,000.
It’s going to be a product limited to only a few people at best. And now that’s if it makes it to market.
With the option being removed from the configurator, there’s no production timeline available. Again, the last one was “mid-2025”, which is soon.
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Portable power station specialist EcoFlow is kicking off its third annual Member’s Festival this month and is offering a unique new rewards program to those who become EcoFlow members. The 2025 EcoFlow Member’s Festival will offer savings of up to 65% for its participating customers, and a portion of those funds will be allocated toward rescue power solutions for communities around the globe through the company’s “Power for All” fund.
EcoFlow remains one of the industry leaders in portable power solutions and continues to trek forward in its vision to power a new tech-driven, eco-conscious future. Per its website:
Our mission from day one is to provide smart and eco-friendly energy solutions for individuals, families, and society at large. We are, were, and will continue to be a reliable and trusted energy companion for users around the world.
To achieve such goals, EcoFlow has continued to expand its portfolio of sustainable energy solutions to its community members, including portable power stations, solar generators, and mountable solar panels. While EcoFlow is doing plenty to support its growing customer base, it has expanded its reach by giving back to disaster-affected communities by helping bolster global disaster response efforts the best way it knows how– with portable power solutions.
Source: EcoFlow
EcoFlow and its members look to provide “Power for All”
Since 2023, EcoFlow has collaborated with organizations worldwide as part of its “Power for All” mission. This initiative aims to ensure access to reliable and timely power to disaster-affected communities across the globe, including rescue agencies, affected hospitals, and shelters, to support rescue and recovery efforts.
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This fund most recently provided aid for communities affected by the recent Los Angeles wildfires, assistance to the Special Forces Charitable Trust (SFCT) in North Carolina following severe hurricanes, and support for non-profits engaged in hurricane preparedness in Florida and the Gulf Coast. Per Jodi Burns, CEO of the Special Forces Charitable Trust:
In the wake of devastating storms in Western North Carolina, reliable power was a critical need for the families we serve. Thanks to EcoFlow’s generous donation of generators, we were able to provide immediate relief, ensuring these families and their communities had access to power when they needed it most. We are so impressed with EcoFlow’s commitment to disaster response through their ‘Power for All’ program. It has made a tangible impact, and we are deeply grateful for their support and partnership in helping these families recover and rebuild.
In 2024, the US experienced 27 weather and climate events, each causing losses exceeding $1 billion, marking the second-highest annual total on record, according to National Centers for Environmental Information. The increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters underscore the critical need for reliable and timely power solutions during emergencies, much like EcoFlow and its members are helping provide through the “Power For All” initiative.
To support new and existing EcoFlow members, the company is celebrating its third annual Member’s Festival throughout April to offer a do-not-miss discount on its products and donate a portion of all sales to the “Power for All” fund to provide rescue power to those in need in the future. Learn how it all works below.
Source: EcoFlow
Save big and give back during the 2025 Member’s Festival
As of April 1st, you can now sign up to become an EcoFlow member to participate in the company’s exclusive 2025 Member Festival.
As a member, you can earn “EcoFlow Power Points” by completing tasks like registration, referrals, and product purchases and tracking your individual efforts toward disaster preparedness and recovery.
Beginning April 4, EcoFlow members will also be able to take advantage of exclusive discounts of up to 65% off select portable power stations, including the DELTA Pro Ultra, DELTA Pro 3, DELTA 2 Max, DELTA 3 Plus, RIVER 3 Plus, and more. However, these sale prices only last through April 25, so you’ll want to move quickly!
Click here to learn more about EcoFlow’s “Power for All” campaign. To register for EcoFlow’s 2025 Member Festival in the US, visit the EcoFlow website. To register as a member in Canada, visit here.
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