Asahi Kasei Builds Factory Even Though Honda Stops Investment

May 16, 2026, 08:00
CanadaTechnology

Introduction

Asahi Kasei is building a battery factory in Port Colborne, Ontario. Honda Canada stopped its plans for electric cars, but Asahi Kasei is still working.

Main Body

Honda Canada stopped a big plan to spend 15 billion dollars on electric cars. The company lost a lot of money. Now, 1,000 new jobs in Simcoe County will not happen. Honda still makes the Civic and CR-V cars. Asahi Kasei is still building its factory. This factory costs 1.56 billion dollars. It is the first big factory of this kind in Canada. It makes parts for batteries. The factory will open in 2029. This is later than the first plan. Now, 925 people work there every day. The company is talking to the city about water and power. Asahi Kasei wants to sell battery parts to many different companies. They do not want to work only with Honda.

Conclusion

Asahi Kasei will open its factory in 2029. Honda Canada stopped its big electric car plan.

Learning

⚡ The Power of "STILL"

In this story, we see the word still used twice. For an A2 learner, this is a magic word to show that a situation has not changed, even when other things around it do change.

How it works: Put "still" before the action word (verb).

  • Honda stopped... but Asahi Kasei is still working.
  • Asahi Kasei is still building its factory.

Simple Meaning: Something happened (Honda stopped) →\rightarrow But the other thing continues (Asahi Kasei works).

🛠️ Money Words

Notice how the text talks about money. It doesn't just say "money," it uses specific action words:

  1. Spend →\rightarrow To give money to buy something (Honda spent 15 billion).
  2. Cost →\rightarrow The price of the thing (The factory costs 1.56 billion).
  3. Lost →\rightarrow When money goes away and is not returned (The company lost money).

Quick Tip:

  • You spend money →\rightarrow The item costs money.

Vocabulary Learning

factory
a place where goods are made
Example:The factory will start making batteries.
electric
using electricity
Example:Electric cars use batteries instead of gasoline.
cars
vehicles that drive on roads
Example:She likes to drive her cars.
plan
an idea for doing something
Example:They made a plan to build a factory.
money
paper or coins used to buy things
Example:He saved some money for a holiday.
jobs
work that people do to earn money
Example:The new jobs will help the community.
people
human beings
Example:Many people came to the event.
city
a large town with many buildings
Example:The city council approved the project.
water
liquid that people drink
Example:We need clean water for everyone.
power
energy that makes machines work
Example:The power supply is reliable.
sell
to give something to someone in exchange for money
Example:They will sell battery parts to other companies.
company
a business that makes or sells goods
Example:The company is expanding its market.