Great Learnings for St. Thomas Team Following Successful Trip To Germany
Media Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 18, 2023
Great learnings for St. Thomas team following successful trip to Germany
ST. THOMAS, ON -
On Saturday December 16th, Mayor Joe Preston, St. Thomas Economic Development Corporation CEO, Sean Dyke and City Manager, Sandra Datars Bere returned from a highly successful trip to Germany.
“Our trip was full of new learnings, about both the science of electric vehicle (EV) batteries and the significant commitment of PowerCo and now PowerCo Canada, to EV battery development across the world, including in St. Thomas”, shared Mayor Preston. In Salzgitter, the St. Thomas delegation was welcomed to PowerCo SE’s corporate office by the members of its Managing Board of Directors and had an extensive tour of the company’s research and development activities and the electric vehicle battery development pilot processes. The group also was able to view the construction of the large Salzgitter EV plant; one of four currently in development worldwide including others in Valencia (Spain), Dalian (China) and St. Thomas.
The overseas trip also provided Mayor Preston with the opportunity to meet with the Mayor of Salzgitter, Frank Klingebiel, and his municipal staff team. Together, the Salzgitter and St. Thomas teams discussed opportunities for further engagement and partnership.
“Salzgitter is a small urban city within a broader rural community, not dissimilar to St. Thomas and its connection to Elgin County”, Mayor Preston remarked. “Salzgitter has had a long and very successful relationship with Volkswagen, operating a fuel engine plant in the community for many years. As VW transitions this fuel engine factory to a much larger EV battery factory, Mayor Klingebiel and I are committed to exploring opportunities for future collaboration as we mutually support the significant commitments of PowerCo to our communities and surrounding regions!”.
During their visit, the St. Thomas team also toured the Wolfsburg Volkswagen plant; the headquarters of Volkswagen Passenger Cars and the world’s largest single car manufacturing complex.
Mayor Preston shared additional information on this productive trip with City Council and St. Thomas residents during tonight’s City Council meeting.
Media Contact:
Joe Preston
Mayor
[email protected]