It’s shocking, in the very best of ways, and it’s all happening by 2027.
The massive investment by Honda/Asahi Kasei, with support from the Federal and Provincial governments, is the kind of news that will empower the economy in Niagara for generations to come. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford recently joined company executives in announcing the largest local investment in over 100 years.
“Canada bet big on electric vehicles, and today, the biggest manufacturers in the world are building them right here in Canada. Asahi Kasei’s investment is another vote of confidence in our auto industry and auto workers”, said Trudeau.
Earlier this year, BloombergNEF ranked Canada’s attractiveness to build EV battery supply chains first in the world, surpassing China which has held the top spot since the ranking began. With our skilled workers, abundant natural resources, clean energy, and commitment to climate action, Canada has become a world leader in EVs.
Asahi Kasei’s new plant in Port Colborne, just minutes away from Empire Canals, will produce Hipore™ battery separators to supply Honda’s manufacturing facility in Alliston. The separator is an essential component of the lithium-ion batteries used in EVs which makes batteries more sustainable and durable by preventing short circuits while enabling lithium ions to pass back and forth during battery charging and discharging.
Construction of the plant may be complete by the end of 2024 and it’s expected to be commercially operational in 2027.
This major new announcement is part of a long term, multi-billion dollar investment by Honda in Ontario. As Premier Doug Ford says, “Asahi Kasei’s investment will bring economic growth and good-paying jobs to workers in Port Colborne and across the Niagara Region.”
With this $1.6 billion dollar investment, plus the multitude of direct and indirect jobs and business it will create, the value of owning at Empire Canals just became an even more sensible decision.
The icing on the cake? The new 80-hectare plant is just across the canal, a 7-minute drive from Empire Canals. That means demand for homes at Empire Canals, now and in the future, will be powered by the biggest news in Niagara.
Put it all together and Empire Canals in Welland is right at the top of places to live, to own and to invest. To learn the details on the remarkable homes and affordable prices available right now at Empire Canals, visit EmpireCommunities.com.