Ballard is to build a membrane electrode assembly plant to boost global fuel cell engine capacity.

Costing EUR40m, the production area has grown from 7,000 to 18,000 square metres to fulfil EUR2 billion worth of new contracts from vehicle manufacturers.

The investment will expand and renovate its tyre plant in Heredia, Costa Rica, adding an additional 160 jobs and increasing production by 36% of its premium tyre range.

BMZ has acquired a controlling shareholding in its battery cell holder supplier, Schutz Kunststofftechnik, essentially protecting its current supply chain.

A new one million sq. ft. site will house some 6,500 employees and will predominantly be responsible for automotive research and development (R&D) housing hi-tech hardware, software and vehicle testing facilities.

Creating an estimated 200 new jobs, the plant will be responsible for the production of the Global Scalable Brake Control (GSBC) and Global Scalable Air Treatment (GSAT) products which enable automated driving.

ZF has produced two million electric motors, including central drives and axle drives for passenger cars and commercial vehicles, since it began supply them for hybrid drives in 2008.

The Canadian manufacturer received an order for 1,000 VMC 1200 trucks from Pioneer Auto Group, its exclusive dealer in the province of British Columbia.

Aside from financial support, the Serbian government will assist in finding land to build the facility and securing the necessary permits/licenses required for construction and operation.

The building is 13,500 square metres - over 10,500 square metres will be dedicated to production, testing and development of fuel cell stacks and fuel cell systems.

The grant, which Microvast received following a joint application with automotive corporation General Motors Company, was awarded from a USD2.8bn fund which came out of the U.S. government’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The investment from British retailer, EG group, is intended for the production of a hydrogen fuel cell Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV).