Stellantis NV (NYSE:STLA) and LG Energy Solution Ltd (KS:373220) have begun the recruitment process to build a core team of production engineers and technicians, forming a launch team for the automaker's battery factory in Ontario.
Operating under the joint venture name NextStar Energy, they are actively hiring 130 new employees. Out of these, the first 30 positions will be dedicated to kickstart and manage initial operations, while the remaining 100 openings will be filled by skilled engineers and technicians. This selected group will participate in an international training program scheduled for October, designed to equip them with the expertise to operate a large-scale lithium-ion battery plant, much like the existing facilities in Poland, China, and South Korea.
"Employees are the most important asset in building lithium-ion batteries, and we plan to invest significantly in making sure that our employees are ready to manage the complicated process and equipment," NextStar Energy CEO Danies Lee said in a statement.
The $5 billion factory is due to open next year after construction was halted in May due to subsidies disagreements between Stellantis and Canadian officials. The automaker reached a deal with Canada and Ontario earlier this month to resume construction. The new deal will see Stellantis receive performance incentives of up to $15B over 10 years.
"Today's announcement is yet another concrete example of how our investments are creating well-paying jobs in Ontario and beyond," François-Philippe Champagne, Canada's minister of innovation, science and industry, said in a statement.
Shares of STLA are down 0.07% in afternoon trading on Monday.