Major EV Parts Facility Coming to Windsor via Minth, AISIN Joint Venture

Windsor, Ontario’s electric vehicle supply chain is set for another major boost as two prominent Asian automotive suppliers, Minth Group and AISIN Corporation, announced a joint venture to build a second EV parts plant in the city. This development comes just months after Minth revealed a $300 million investment in a separate EV component facility in the same area.

“This new site is expected to generate hundreds of new high-quality jobs and will be instrumental in producing key aluminum, steel, and polymer-based parts for electric vehicle platforms across North America,” Invest WindsorEssex said in a statement Tuesday.

The first Minth facility—currently under construction on surplus airport land—is slated to open by September, with full-scale mass production expected in early 2026. According to William Chin, Chief Strategy Officer at Minth, the jobs created by the second facility were already included in the original 1,100-job estimate tied to the initial $300 million investment.

Chin clarified that although the joint venture with Japan-based AISIN was planned from the start, the partnership had to be finalized before it could be publicly disclosed.

Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Vic Fedeli, praised the move: “This is a strong signal of confidence in Ontario's auto sector. It will create hundreds of new, good-paying jobs in the Windsor-Essex region, building on the 1,000 jobs created through Minth's previous investment.”

Fedeli’s office later explained that while the actual job count hadn’t changed, additional spin-off jobs and indirect employment would likely emerge in the local economy due to the expanded supply chain activity.

The announcement comes at a time of increasing volatility in the electric vehicle market. Some projects in Canada have been paused amid tariff pressures and shifting sales projections. Still, confidence in Windsor’s manufacturing future remains strong.

“At a time when global economic uncertainty is top of mind, today’s announcement is a powerful reminder that Windsor remains resilient, competitive, and open for business,” said Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens.

Despite broader economic concerns, Scott Turpin, President and CEO of AISIN World Corp. of America, said the partnership is moving ahead confidently: “We made the decision to move forward regardless of the noise that we’re hearing right now in this news cycle. We want to make sure that we’re not letting politics drive our business decisions.”

Turpin acknowledged ongoing U.S.-Canada trade tensions, fueled by President Donald Trump’s tariffs, but remained optimistic: “The joint venture with Minth was going forward regardless” and said he believes the trade issues will be “short-lived.”

AISIN is already a well-established global supplier with a facility in Stratford, Ontario, and offices in Michigan. The new Windsor plant adds to its North American footprint, strategically placing operations near major automotive customers.

The Rosati Group, a local firm, is managing construction and design for both the initial and newly announced facilities.

Invest WindsorEssex called AISIN “one of the world’s largest tier one automotive suppliers” and noted its key role in supplying Toyota and other top automakers.

As global demand for EVs continues to grow and manufacturing hubs evolve, this expanded investment from Minth and AISIN cements Windsor’s role as a key player in North America’s electric vehicle future.

Originally reported by Emma Loop in CBC News.