Advanced battery plant may be headed for Battle Creek

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – One and a half million dollars will be going toward lithium ion battery production in Battle Creek.

A company called Toda America is apparently looking to build its facility from scratch, all of it related to the next generation of lithium ion batteries for the next generation of electrified cars. The facility would be an investment of over $70 million all towards the manufacture and supply of lithium ion batteries.

The site where the facility would go has been unoccupied since the military was using it as a vehicle storage depot when the area was still Fort Custer. Now, Toda America is looking to build a state of the art facility that will employ over 50 people and leave open the option for expansion.

Word of the plan comes as a bit of good news in a sea of bad news over jobs, and the plan is one that Battle Creek can celebrate. Even though there are still some hurdles to be cleared, it appears that jobs and a new plant are on the way.

“We're very pleased that the company has chosen to focus on Battle Creek, and it's a great opportunity for Battle Creek and our region with a company that's seen as a leader and we expect is one of the preferred battery component suppliers,” said Karl Dehn of Battle Creek Unlimited.