Davos, Switzerland: Swiss engineering firm ABB announced plans January 18 for a new, $90 million headquarters and research and development centre for electric vehicles in Montréal.
The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, welcomed the investment after meeting in Davos with Ulrich Spiesshofer, President and Chief Executive Officer of ABB.
The new Montréal headquarters, set to open in 2017, will maintain 700 jobs and consolidate ABB's research and development, manufacturing, assembly and testing facilities under one roof. The new facility will also house the company's North American Centre for Excellence in e-Mobility, which will focus on developing energy-management solutions for electric buses and trains.
Minister Bains and Dr. Spiesshofer discussed additional ABB investment opportunities in research and development related to the Internet of Things, robotics and the automation of food processing. The Minister expressed his commitment to ongoing engagement with ABB on investment opportunities that will strengthen Canada's innovation ecosystem and create jobs for the middle class and those working hard to join it.