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ST. THOMAS, ONT. – PowerCo �鶹��ýӳ�� has named EllisDon Corporation the general contractor for its $7 billion St. Thomas gigafactory, marking a key milestone as the project advances into its next phase of �鶹��ýӳ��.

The project is now moving into the core infrastructure and structural phases that will support future production.

Work includes the production-building shell, mechanical, electrical and plumbing installations, energy and utility systems and supporting site services. Approximately 60 EllisDon workers are currently onsite, expected to ramp up to roughly 1,300 workers at peak, alongside additional personnel supporting parallel project activities, a release reads.

At 1.5-million-square-feet, the plant will be the size of 210 football fields just for the factory alone. The entire industrial park itself amounts to 1,500 acres, or an area of 850 football fields. 

“The PowerCo facility represents a transformative investment in �鶹��ýӳ��’s industrial future, and EllisDon is proud to play a role in its delivery,” said Max Mantha, president, �鶹��ýӳ�� at EllisDon in a statement. “As a Canadian-headquartered, employee-owned company, we are committed to building the infrastructure that will help support �鶹��ýӳ��’s growing electric vehicle and battery manufacturing sector. This project will create opportunities for skilled tradespeople, local businesses, and communities across southwestern Ontario, and we look forward to working with PowerCo and our partners on this landmark development.”

Ground was broken in 2025 on the project, with Magil Construction �鶹��ýӳ�� leading foundation �鶹��ýӳ�� for three major buildings and Steelcon Group of Companies fabricating and erecting structural steel components.

PowerCo has stated it is also aligning the project’s timeline and product strategy “with evolving market demand, technological advancements and the Volkswagen Group’s long-term strategy.”

St. Thomas is now expected to begin operations in 2029. PowerCo had previously said initial battery production was targeted for 2027.

“The St. Thomas gigafactory remains a cornerstone of our North American strategy,” said Joel Karlsberg, chief procurement officer with PowerCo �鶹��ýӳ��.

“We are continuing to build now while determining how and when the facility scales over time. This is about getting the pacing right — not stepping back — to protect our long-term investment, support regional jobs, and position �鶹��ýӳ��, Ontario and St. Thomas to benefit in a dynamic and evolving market.”