Texas Town Lassos Three Canadian Company Expansions in Clean Energy and Automotive Industries

Canadian Solar Inc., Hexagon Purus, and Vehicle Accessories, Inc. have announced leases collectively totaling two million square feet in the United States’ centrally located city of Mesquite, Texas. Combined, the companies add 2,000 jobs to the Dallas – Fort Worth region in North Texas, one of the fastest growing commercial centers in the world.

Canadian Solar - based in Guelph, Ontario - began operations in late 2023 after announcing the North American plant in June. The $250 million investment brings a state-of-the-art solar photovoltaic module manufacturing plant with an annual output of 5 GW, approximately 20,000 high power modules per day. “Canadian Solar’s new $250 million manufacturing plant in Mesquite will bolster Texas’ status as the energy capital of the world and secure our leadership as a global tech hub,” said Governor Greg Abbott. The project was six years in the making, as memorialized by founder and CEO, Dr. Shawn Qu on LinkedIn. Canadian Solar leased a 763,000 square foot existing building which provided an onsite electric substation, and is planning an additional 750,000 square foot expansion to begin this year.

Hexagon Purus - a Norway-based global manufacturer of zero-emission mobility and hydrogen infrastructure solutions - calls Kelowna, Canada, home to their newest engineering and manufacturing facility which opened in April 2023. The company also opened a new hydrogen cylinder production facility in January of 2023 in the U.S., with Mesquite, being the third expansion into North America set to begin operations later this year. The Mesquite facility, a new 216,000 square foot Class A industrial building, will focus on electric vehicle integration for low-mileage, heavy-duty trucks.

Vehicle Accessories, Inc. – consolidating locations from Toronto, Ontario, and Quebec, as well as Buffalo, New York, and Texas – moved its headquarters and manufacturing operations to the new Alcott Logistics Station development in Mesquite, upon the completion of a build-to-suit facility. The unique business park, containing a five-acre public park with adult exercise equipment and a trail system, connects the campus to nearby neighborhoods. The announcement came in 2021 with operations commencing late 2023, producing a line of protective door edge guards, all-weather floor mats, splash guards, body side moldings, bumper protectors, and door sills for industry leaders such as Toyota, Lexus, Ford, General Motors, Nissan, and more.

Mesquite's industrial leasing has soared in the past year with the recent addition of 10 million square feet of new and under construction facilities.  “Real estate availability, access to nearby suppliers, quality of life amenities, and attainable housing supply continue to attract companies from around the world to choose this area,” states Mayor Daniel Aleman, Jr. “Great things are happening in Mesquite, and we welcome more to join us!”

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