ST. CLAIR, MI—Magna International Inc. has broken ground on a new manufacturing facility here that will assemble battery enclosures for the new GMC Hummer EV. Production at the 345,000- square-foot Magna Electric Vehicle Structures plant will ramp up early next year.
“The battery enclosure contributes to the structural and safety aspects of a vehicle’s frame and protects high-voltage batteries from damage and water,” says John Farrell, president of Cosma International, Magna’s body and chassis group. “[We] can develop these advanced assemblies in steel, aluminum and multimaterial configurations, including lightweight composites, to meet the individual needs of customers.
“Bringing this new battery enclosure technology to market is another example of [our] ability to [help automakers support] their focus on a lower emissions future,” explains Farrell. “This new business with GM marks an important evolution as the company expands its capabilities in all aspects of the vehicle electrification space.
“The move toward electrification allows us to rethink what is possible and demonstrate how we can leverage our core strengths to continue bringing customers innovative solutions that help them meet their goals, no matter how challenging,” adds Farrell.
