Invest WindsorEssex and City of Windsor/Media Release
City of Windsor, Invest WindsorEssex announce new investment with NEO Battery Materials Ltd.
WINDSOR-ESSEX, ONT. (Jan. 23, 2025) – NEO Battery Materials Ltd., an Ontario-based company that focuses on the development of low-cost, high-capacity silicon anode materials for lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles, has confirmed plans to establish operations in Windsor. This investment will create local jobs and directly contribute to the region’s growing EV supply chain.
NEO Battery Materials Ltd. will initially invest $69 million to locate their 87,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility in Windsor. The manufacturing operations will be located on eight acres of surplus land at the Windsor International Airport and will include plans for future phased expansion with investment totalling approximately $120 million over eight years. The company will employ over 100 people when fully operational. Through a Community Improvement Plan, Windsor City Council has approved in principle a grant for NEO Battery Materials to support their establishment and operations. This program is designed to attract and retain businesses that align with the City’s long-term economic goals.
NEO Battery Material’s mission is to help accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles through low-cost, long-running and fast-charging silicon anode materials. Silicon is widely recognized as the most promising material to increase the run-time of lithium-ion batteries. The company retains a proprietary manufacturing process to produce silicon anodes that are at least 60 per cent more affordable with higher capacity than competitors’ materials.
Today’s local investment announcement confirms the City of Windsor’s position as the premier Canadian destination for electric vehicle component manufacturing and next-generation vehicle production.
NEO Battery Materials has chosen to locate in Windsor-Essex to enhance their supply chain profile and increase the company’s access to international markets. The region’s strategic cross-border location, highly skilled workforce and rapidly growing EV supply chain expands NEO Battery Materials’ supplier capabilities and opportunities.
The Invest WindsorEssex Investment Attraction team began working with NEO Battery Materials in October 2023 and supported their expansion to the region. The team provided assistance with site selection and facilitated connections with the University of Windsor and various levels of government to access incentive programs and form regional partnerships.
The partnership between NEO Battery Material and the University of Windsor will leverage the synergies between industry and academia to drive innovation and competitive advantages in battery and sustainable mobility technologies. Both are committed to combining their strengths in cultivating highly qualified talent, commercializing innovation, and conducting pivotal research and development.
Quotes
“Today’s announcement is a testament to Windsor’s strategic location, skilled workforce, and leadership in the automotive and EV industries. NEO Battery Materials’ decision to invest in our city highlights our ability to attract forward-thinking companies that drive innovation and create opportunities for our community. As the Automotive and Automobility Capital of Canada, and one of the most important communities to watch in the province and country, we are excited to welcome NEO to Windsor and look forward to the positive impacts, including job creation, this investment will bring to our region.” – Drew Dilkens, Mayor, City of Windsor and Board Chair, Invest WindsorEssex
“We are thrilled to welcome NEO Battery Materials to Windsor-Essex, a testament to our region’s strategic location and prominence as a global leader in next-generation vehicle production and battery manufacturing. We are proud to support NEO Battery Materials in establishing their innovative operations here and look forward to their continued growth and impact in our community.” – Joe Goncalves, Vice President Investment Attraction & Strategic Initiatives, Invest WindsorEssex
“We are excited to officially announce our investment in Windsor-Essex, a region that embodies innovation, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to supporting advanced manufacturing. Over the past two years, the Invest WindsorEssex team together with the City of Windsor have been instrumental in our journey, providing unparalleled support every step of the way. Their expertise in site selection and competitive development incentives allowed us to identify the perfect location at Windsor Airport that meets our operational needs, from land size and zoning allowances to proximity to key logistics routes and EV battery industry customers.
Beyond site selection, Invest WindsorEssex facilitated connections with government organizations and guided us through incentive programs that will enable us to grow and innovate faster. They also introduced us to the University of Windsor, paving the way for partnerships in R&D that will enhance the technological edge of our silicon anode materials.
We are proud to be establishing Canada’s first advanced silicon anode manufacturing facility in Windsor-Essex, contributing to the increasing demand for high-performance batteries for the rapidly growing EV supply chain and fostering economic development in the region. We look forward to a successful partnership with Invest WindsorEssex, the City of Windsor and the University of Windsor to advance our mission of accelerating EV adoption through cost-effective, high-performance battery solutions.” – Spencer Sungbum Huh, President & CEO, NEO Battery Materials
“Creating a thriving innovation ecosystem in Windsor-Essex comes from collaborations with teams like NEO Battery Materials. These projects are crucial to developing a world-class talent pool and critical to advancing R&D and material discovery.” – Tom Schnekenburger Director, Research Partnerships, University of Windsor
ABOUT INVEST WINDSORESSEX
Invest WindsorEssex is the lead economic development agency for the Windsor-Essex region. The focus of the organization is to develop and execute strategies to retain, expand, attract and help new businesses start-up in Windsor-Essex. Invest WindsorEssex is led by a board of distinguished community leaders. A team of professional staff will assist you with all your location and investment decisions by working one-on-one with businesses, to facilitate the process of starting, growing or locating in Windsor-Essex. investwindsoressex.com
ABOUT NEO BATTERY MATERIALS LTD.
NEO Battery Materials is a Canadian battery materials technology company focused on developing silicon anode materials for lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles, electronics, and energy storage systems. With a patent-protected, low-cost manufacturing process, NEO Battery enables longer-running and ultra-fast charging batteries compared to existing state-of-the-art technologies. The company aims to be a globally-leading producer of silicon anode materials for the electric vehicle and energy storage industries. For more information, please visit the company’s website at: neobatterymaterials.com.
ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR
With a rich history dating back to 1857, the University of Windsor is a comprehensive, student-focused institution with more than 17,000 students enrolled in a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs in the faculties of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Human Kinetics, Law, Nursing, Odette School of Business and Science. UWindsor’s mission is to empower positive change through regionally and globally engaged inquiry, learning, scholarship, creative activity and advance bold and impactful research. Visit uwindsor.ca to learn more.
Media Contacts
Gina Meret-Dybenko
Director, Marketing and Communications
Invest WindsorEssex
Mobile: 519-791-6223 | Email: gmeret@investwindsoressex.com
Michael Janisse
Senior Manager, Communications, Public Relations & Customer Service (A)
City of Windsor
Mobile: 519-919-3174 | Email: mjanisse@citywindsor.ca