The Canadian unit of Mercedes-Benz has opened a fuel cell stack plant in Burnaby in British Columbia, the first such automated automotive facility in the world.

The plant is completing its testing and commissioning phase and is expected to start full-series production soon.

The company announced its decision to set up the facility in Burnaby last year choosing the location so that the plant can be close to Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation, a fuel cell stack developer. Daimler holds a 50.1% stake in Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation, with Ford and Ballard Power Systems owning the remainder.

Burnaby is also close to an industrial fuel cell cluster in the Greater Vancouver region.