Exro Technologies Inc., a power electronics manufacturer based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, is establishing its United States headquarters in Mesa after a six-month search process.
Exro Technologies CEO Sue Ozdemir said the company chose the Phoenix area because of the Valley’s access to talent and existing electric vehicle atmosphere. The company has two core divisions, an inverter that is used in electric mobility, ranging from commercial trucks to electric scooters, and a battery control system, which will launch in the United States. The battery control system will allow batteries to be repurposed into an energy storage system and used again.
The company worked with a site selection firm to consider cities across the United States for the U.S. headquarters, and eventually narrowed options to Texas, Florida and Arizona, Ozdemir said. Arizona’s electric vehicle environment and supply chain, as well as a high quality of life for employees tipped the scales for the Valley.
The company leased 15,000 square feet in a building being developed by Marwest in Mesa near the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. The building is still under construction, but the company expects to occupy the space in late October or November, Ozdemir said. The facility will serve as a full operational center with research and development and testing.
So far, the firm has fewer than 10 employees in Phoenix, but has some people relocating to the Valley from other locations and has posted for jobs in Mesa. At full capacity, the company plans to have about 50 employees at the Mesa facility. About half of those positions will be for a variety of engineering roles, including power, electronics and software engineers.
“Exro Technologies made an excellent decision in choosing to locate its U.S. headquarters in the Mesa Gateway area,” Mesa Mayor John Giles said in a statement. “The company’s mission to optimize and increase the adoption of electric vehicles is in line with our city’s goals to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and manage electric materials responsibly.”
Ozdemir said the company worked closely with the Greater Phoenix Economic Council during the process of deciding on a new location.
“Exro is doing ground-breaking work and is the type of technology company that propels our innovation-centered economy while bolstering the region's electric vehicle ecosystem," Chris Camacho, president & CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, said in a statement. “We’re excited to see another Canadian technology firm place investment in Mesa and look forward to being a partner in their continued growth and success.”
The firm will be located near where ElectraMeccanica, another Canadian company, is creating an assembly facility for its three-wheeled electric vehicle.
