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Ontario  + Industrial  |  September 28, 2026
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By: Joel Bowey

PowerCo Pushes $7B St. Thomas Battery Plant To 2029

PowerCo has delayed the start of production at its $7B St. Thomas battery plant to 2029, pushing back a key demand driver for the industrial district developing around it.

The Volkswagen subsidiary said the new timeline will allow it to incorporate next-generation battery technology while aligning production with market demand. PowerCo was still targeting a 2027 opening as recently as July.

Construction is continuing at Yarmouth Yards Industrial Park, off Ron McNeil Line and Highbury Avenue South, with EllisDon named general contractor for the next phase.

The shift matters beyond the 350-acre factory site. As Connect reported Sept. 9, more than 1,000 acres of serviced, shovel-ready industrial land are being positioned around Yarmouth Yards for suppliers and other manufacturers.

Vianode is planning a $3.2B synthetic graphite plant nearby, while Vicano’s 67-acre Highbury Industrial project is planned for 1.3M SF across five buildings. Its first 148K-SF building is under construction.

The two-year PowerCo delay could influence when suppliers commit to surrounding land and how quickly new industrial space is absorbed.

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About Joel Bowey

Joel Bowey is Director of Content and Events for Connect CRE in Canada, leading the company’s editorial coverage and industry engagement across the Canadian commercial real estate market. He brings more than 20 years of experience in Canadian journalism and digital media, including senior leadership roles with CTV News, CP24 and BNN Bloomberg. Most recently, he served as Senior Managing Editor at Bell Media, overseeing major newsrooms, national coverage and digital growth initiatives. Throughout his career, Joel has led large editorial teams, covered major Canadian business and economic stories, and helped develop new audiences across platforms. At Connect CRE, he is focused on delivering timely, useful reporting on the people, projects, deals and trends shaping commercial real estate in Canada. Based in the Greater Toronto Area, Joel also represents Connect CRE at industry events and conferences across the country.
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