Chrysler and Dodge factories in Brampton and Windsor are getting just over $1 billion from the federal and provincial governments to bolster electric vehicle manufacturing capabilities.

Stellantis, the automakers' parent company, is spending $3.4 billion on the two plants.

Ottawa will spend up to $529 million, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, while the province will spend up to $513 million, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said.

It's expected to create 2,500 jobs, Stellantis said.

The announcement comes days before Ontario's election campaign officially starts.

The money "secures more steady well-paying jobs for the people and families in Windsor and Brampton," Ford said. "Together (with the federal government), we are making Ontario a leading jurisdiction for electric vehicles."

Ford was late to the party after flying in coach and being delayed for four hours, he said.

Ford's remarks didn't focus so much on the announcement itself, but more so what it means for his government's efforts to revive Ontario's auto manufacturing sector.

The money is evidence that the Progressive Conservatives' auto manufacturing and critical minerals strategies are paying dividends, a somewhat out-of-breath Ford added.

Windsor's three ridings are all in NDP hands. The NDP easily won Windsor—Tecumseh and Windsor West in 2018, but Essex saw a close finish between incumbent NDP MP Taras Natyshak and PC challenger Chris Lewis.

The money will help the two plants to keep building traditional internal combustion vehicles in Ontario, while ramping up electric vehicle manufacturing.

Stellantis wants more than half of its cars sold to be electric by 2030, said Mark Stewart, the company's North American chief operating officer.

The federal government intends to introduce regulations to ensure electric vehicles make up an increasingly large percentage of auto sales in Canada.

The recently-released federal emissions reduction plan laid out a road map to ensure at least 20 per cent of new light-duty vehicle sales be zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) by 2026, at least 60 per cent of sales being ZEVs by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2035.

Stellantis is aiming to roll out at least 25 different electric vehicle models in the next few years, and the two plants are central to achieving that goal, Stewart said.

"Brampton is going to be fully transformed," he said. "When production resumes in 2025, the plant is going to introduce all new flexible architecture to support the company's (electric vehicle) plans, including full battery electric vehicles."

Both plants will move to three-shift operation, meaning the factories will operate at all hours of the day, Stewart said.

The half-billion investment from the province comes on the heels of another major announcement from Stellantis.

In late March, the company announced a plan to spend $5 billion to build a battery plant in Windsor, supported by the federal and provincial governments. Ford didn't say how much taxpayer money was spent in the March announcement.

Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association, said on Twitter the announcement is a part of "the best run of investment attraction in Ontario’s auto sector ever."

Before Ford's arrival, Trudeau took a not-so-veiled shot at Ford for cancelling Ontario's electric vehicle rebate program. Several other provinces offer generous rebates that can be combined with the federal incentive to give customers a big discount on a new electric vehicle.

"I was just in B.C. talking with people how much provincial rebates can make a difference," Trudeau said.

Ford was asked about the comment, and any plans to revive an Ontario rebate program, but dodged the question. Instead, he opted to reiterate his comments on how giving money to companies to set up shop in Ontario helps the regional economy and Ontario residents.

Two Ontario automakers get $1 billion from province, feds

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