With the increasing shift toward vehicle electrification, Magna is leveraging its body and chassis expertise to provide innovative battery enclosures. The company is expanding its operations into Chatham, as an extension of its current operations in St. Thomas to support new business from Ford Motor Company.

The new 170,000 square foot facility will produce battery enclosures for the Ford F-150 Lighting. Battery enclosures, which all electric vehicles require, house high-voltage batteries, electrical components, sensors and connectors, contributing to the structural and safety aspects of a vehicle’s frame and protecting critical components from potential impact, heat and water.

The Magna innovation is the largest lightweight aluminum battery enclosure on the market and the first on a work truck.