We are thrilled to share with you the most recent announcements and developments in the Windsor-Essex region for the month of October. See below to read our top highlights.
Emerging Technologies in Automation & Mobility Transformation Conference & Trade Show 2025 – RECAP
The 2025 Emerging Technologies in Automation & Mobility Transformation Conference & Trade Show proved to be a success, bringing together over 500 attendees and featuring over 40 exhibitors from across the advanced manufacturing and automation industry.
Wendy Stark, director of Business Retention and Expansion at Invest WindsorEssex, emphasized that cooperation is essential for cross-industry innovation. The conference brought together automation users and providers who are collaborating on various projects and advancing new technologies.
The event included a dynamic panel discussion moderated by Invest WindsorEssex’s Director of Automobility and Innovation, Ed Dawson, featuring Danies Lee, CEO of NextStar Energy, and Joris Myny, senior vice president of Digital Industries at Siemens Canada. The panel, titled Building the Battery Ecosystem, explored insights into the region’s growing role in vehicle innovation. During the discussion, Danies Lee emphasized NextStar Energy’s collaboration with Invest WindsorEssex’s Battery Boost Technical Training Program, which has successfully placed over 390 graduates to work at the battery plant, reinforcing the company’s long-term commitment to local workforce development and economic growth. WATCH HIGHLIGHT
Downtown Detroit Partnership 2025 Fall Forum – RECAP
The team at Invest WindsorEssex had the pleasure of attending the Downtown Detroit Partnership 2025 Fall Forum: Special Edition. The event featured several major transportation and infrastructure announcements aimed at strengthening regional mobility and economic integration across the Great Lakes corridor.
One of the most significant developments came from Arun Rao, Amtrak’s Senior Director of Network Development (Central Region), who announced plans to extend Amtrak’s Wolverine Service to Windsor, Ontario. This new cross-border passenger rail connection will offer one to two daily trains from Detroit to Windsor, seamlessly linking with VIA Rail Canada services to London and Toronto through the CPKC tunnel. The extension will create a direct passenger rail corridor connecting Chicago, Detroit, Windsor and Toronto.
For Windsor, this represents a major transportation milestone, positioning the city as a critical international rail hub and enhancing accessibility for both travellers and businesses. It also strengthens Windsor’s role in the growing regional network that supports trade, tourism and workforce mobility. Gordon Orr, CEO of Invest WindsorEssex and Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island, had the pleasure of sharing how Windsor’s growth aligns with Downtown Detroit’s development and emphasized the historic and ongoing significance of our cross-border region.
Overall, the event’s programming underscored Windsor’s strategic importance as a transportation gateway between Canada and the U.S., advancing economic growth and integration across the Great Lakes region. Read full recap HERE
NextStar Energy hits milestone 1,000th employee hired
NextStar Energy has officially hired its 1,000th employee, underlining its rapid growth and deepening commitment to local job creation. NextStar began hiring in 2023, ramping up recruitment efforts over the past year as operations began to take shape. The 1000th employee, a recent graduate of St. Clair College, was hired as a Quality Inspector.
The facility’s construction is complete, module assembly is underway and electrode/cell production will ramp up shortly. New hires benefit from immersive training, such as the Battery Boost Technical Training program created in partnership with Invest WindsorEssex and Palette Skills with funding from the Government of Canada and program partner Virtualware, ensuring employees are ready for the industry’s advanced battery-manufacturing demands. READ MORE
Opportunity alert for Windsor-Essex businesses
The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) is inviting vendors to become official merchandise partners for the Gordie Howe International Bridge project. Businesses with expertise in apparel, accessories, or collectibles are encouraged to submit an Expression of Interest to design, produce and sell officially licensed Gordie Howe International Bridge merchandise by Nov. 14, 2025.
The Gordie Howe International Bridge project is a once-in-a-generation undertaking. Not only will it deliver much-needed transportation improvements for international travellers, but it will also provide jobs and opportunities for growth across the Windsor-Detroit region and includes features that make this project truly distinctive.
This landmark infrastructure project continues to create meaningful opportunities for local businesses, suppliers and contractors, driving economic growth and job creation throughout the region. LEARN MORE
Uber Green becomes Uber Electric — a clear shift to all-battery-electric rides in Canada
Uber is stepping up its electric game in Canada with the launch of Uber Electric, an all-battery-electric service that replaces its previous “Green” offering. With a goal of 100 per cent zero-emission rides by 2030 and features like battery-aware matching to support drivers, Uber is helping shift millions of trips toward a cleaner future. Expect quieter, smoother, greener rides ahead. LEARN MORE