1,100 EV sector jobs possible at new parts factory being built near Windsor's airport
The nearly 380,000-square-foot factory will go up on surplus airport land on Cabana Road East. It will represent the first phase of a "multi-building manufacturing campus," according to the owner, Minth Group.
It will make cases for electric vehicle batteries, and is expected to be open by September.
The Canadian-owned company says it's a $300 million investment, meant to support the company's growing demand for aluminum, steel, and plastic components for electric and hybrid vehicle battery trays, structures and exterior trim.
The province is doling out a $40 million loan to help secure the deal.
Ontario's minister of economic development and job creation says it will create "good-paying" jobs, despite the current trade war conditions.
"[It] demonstrates that despite U.S. tariffs and in the face of global uncertainty, Ontario remains a world-class destination for investment and manufacturing," said Vic Fedeli.
Phase one of the Minth Group project in Windsor, Ont., is supposed to be complete by September. (Dalson Chen/CBC)
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens says it's a testament to the border city's growing leadership in the automotive sector.
"This new facility, coupled with significant job creation and investment, will not only bolster our local economy, but also solidify Windsor's position as a hub for next-generation vehicle innovation," said Dilkens.
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The Drive
28 minutes ago
- The Drive
I Drove a 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid for Two Months and Got an Easy 51 MPG
The latest car news, reviews, and features. Despite cars becoming larger and heavier over the years, there are many fuel-efficient vehicles currently on sale that won't break the bank. There are options in the gasoline segment, hybrid, and also plug-in hybrid, though the latter are typically less affordable. Either way, car shoppers are spoiled for choice. My choice—and I really mean my choice, because this is the car I'd buy tomorrow if I needed one—is the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid. We've reviewed the Civic Hybrid twice over the last 13 months, calling it a 'Prius Hater' after a couple of hours behind the wheel of a prototype last June. In March, we named it a 'Top Choice' after a week-long test in the frigid Canadian winter. What did these tests have in common? They were both relatively brief, providing just miniature snippets compared to a real-world ownership experience. So, why not find out how one performs over a couple of months? Jerry Perez The Honda Civic doesn't need an introduction. The popular sedan remains one of the best-selling cars in the U.S. and, like nearly every vehicle on the market, it has evolved, matured, and become more advanced over the years. Of course, it has also become more expensive. For 2025, the Sedan Hybrid is offered in two trims: Sport Hybrid and Sport Touring Hybrid. The former will set you back $30,490 while the range-topping Sport Touring Hybrid comes in at $33,490 (including $1,195 destination). You can also opt for the hatchback model, though that will cost you $1,200 more. It's worth noting that there really isn't a whole lot you can add to these in terms of options (besides a few unnecessary visual add-ons), so these prices are pretty representative of what most buyers should expect to pay. The aforementioned reviews will tell you everything you need to know about the Civic Hybrid's exterior, interior, and driving dynamics. Today I'll be focusing on its most important attribute: the drivetrain. The 2.0-liter, four-cylinder hybrid engine, continuously variable automatic transmission, and front-wheel-drive system allow this comfortable sedan to go a long way on very little fuel. Jerry Perez Despite fuel efficiency being the main mission, the battery-assisted four-banger boasts some decent performance specs. There's 200 horsepower on tap, which is more than enough to get out of your own way and others' on the highway, and just the right amount to have a little fun on a country road. There's also 232 lb-ft of torque, netting the Civic Hybrid the same hp but more torque than the sporty Si. The engine is tuned differently, of course, and there's a CVT instead of a six-speed manual, but overall, Honda did a great job giving the most fuel-efficient Civic a generous pinch of excitement. My test began with about 330 miles already logged on this 2025 Civic by the time it was delivered to me. Over nearly eight weeks of daily driving, I racked up 1,830 miles, bringing the total mileage to 2,166 when it went back to Honda. My goal was to find out the car's real-world fuel economy. This wasn't just about city mpg, not just highway, and definitely not about hypermiling or trying to achieve a certain target. Y'know, some days you run errands around town in a hurry because you're running late to whatever soul-draining commitment is on your calendar, and other days you're gently cruising across state lines to visit family. And, hopefully , sometimes you don't even drive at all because you're at home relaxing. Furthermore, throughout the test, I forced myself to forget that I was even performing it at all to ensure my results were as accurate (and realistic) as possible. Battery usage is prioritized by the drivetrain as often as possible in the name of fuel efficiency, but you wouldn't exactly be able to tell this from behind the wheel. In other hybrid economy cars, there is a very noticeable and sometimes harsh transition from electric power to gasoline power. When pulling away from a stop, the battery typically drives the front axle until the gas engine comes in. However, in the Civic, that hand-off is extremely smooth and isn't felt at the pedals or the steering wheel. There's no clunk or jolt from the drivetrain, which is quite nice, especially if you're prone to car sickness. The reason for this is Honda's two-motor hybrid system, which debuted in the 2014 Accord and is now on its fourth generation. While I won't bore you with an engineering lesson (primarily because I'm not qualified), I'll succinctly explain how the five-part system works and why it's so clever. First, there's the electric motor generator that provides electricity to the battery. Then there's the electric propulsion motor, which provides the power to drive the front wheels. Then comes the Atkinson-cycle gas engine, which is connected to the electric generator/starter motor to work as an electrical generator, supplying power to the hybrid battery and the propulsion motor. Now, here's one of the keys to the Civic's efficiency: the engine also drives the wheels via a lockup clutch but this primarily happens during highway cruising conditions for optimum efficiency. Lastly, the PCU (Power Control Unit) is the brain that makes all this magic happen. What's even more surprising is that the battery will also be prioritized on the highway, and not just in the city. The highest speed I experienced this at was 75 mph, when the tachometer needle dropped to zero and the battery graphic turned on. Even while cruising on the interstate on battery power, you'll still have a bit of oomph to pass a slower car when you need to. Of course, step on the accelerator a bit too strongly, and the four-banger will fire right up. 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My combined fuel economy number of 51.2 surpasses the EPA's estimate of 49 mpg. In terms of city-only driving, I averaged over 53 mpg for at least one full tank of gas, which also bested the EPA's 50 mpg average. And regardless of these figures, anything north of 35 is considered solid in my book. Forty to 45 mpg while enjoying the convenience of a long-range fuel tank plus efficient city driving, and $38 fill-ups at Midwest fuel prices? It calls an EV's overall value into question. Both have pros and cons, but as a whole, it should entice a car shopper to do loads of research before settling for either drivetrain. 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid Sedan Specs Base Price (As Tested) $33,490 ($33,945) Powertrain 2.0-liter four-cylinder | continuously variable automatic transmission | front-wheel drive Horsepower 200 Torque 232 lb-ft @ 0-2,000 rpm Seating Capacity 5 Cargo Volume 14.4 cubic feet Curb Weight 3,252 pounds Fuel Economy 50 mpg city | 47 highway | 49 combined Quick Take Who doesn't like to save money at the pump? Score 9.5/10 Email the author at jerry@
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28 minutes ago
- TechCrunch
Cohere hires long-time Meta research head Joelle Pineau as its chief AI officer
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Image Credits:Image Credits:Paul Morigi/Haddad Media / Getty Images Beyond the patriotism, Pineau feels the opportunity with Cohere is a good chance to venture beyond research. At FAIR, Pineau oversaw research teams working on projects that could take anywhere from 18 months to 10 years to deliver. Now, she'll be working within a much tighter timeline, as well as getting involved with customers and products. And even though Cohere has fewer resources than Meta, Pineau said she'll be more agile in her new role. Cohere's latest product is an AI agent platform dubbed North that enterprises and government agencies can deploy privately on their own infrastructure, an attractive notion for many of its customers, which are banks and federal organizations that handle highly sensitive data. That puts Cohere in competition with open-source providers like DeepSeek and Meta, whose models can also be run locally, but at a lower cost. 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Business Wire
an hour ago
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