VW Group’s PowerCo shrugs off tariffs, starts construction on $7-billion Ontario battery plant

Volkswagen Group has started construction on its Cdn $7-billion battery cell manufacturing plant in St. Thomas, Ont., barreling ahead with the megaproject despite global trade tensions and uncertain short-term prospects for North America’s electric-vehicle market. The automaker’s battery unit PowerCo put ceremonial shovels in the ground at the site Oct. 28, several weeks after construction crews began laying formwork and rebar for the plant’s foundations. PowerCo CEO Frank Blome said the “big milestone” k ...