Ford Motor Co. et, two South Korean battery makers, are making a $980 million (C$1. 2 billion) investment to build a cathode production plant in Quebec that will provide batteries for Ford’s electric vehicles.
The investment through car manufacturer Dearborn, SK On Co Ltd and EcoPro BM Co. Ltd. is Ford’s first in Quebec and is an effort to localize the processing of raw materials.
“Ford has been serving consumers in Canada for 119 years,” Bev Goodman, president and chief executive officer of Ford of Canada, said in a statement, “longer than any other automaker, and we are excited to invest in this new facility to create a vertically integrated closed-loop battery production supply chain in North America. Designed to make electric cars more available to millions of people over time. »
Production in Bécancour, a city on the banks of the St. Lawrence River that has attracted investment in the electric vehicle sector, will begin in the first part of 2026 with a capacity to produce up to about 50,000 tonnes (45,000 metric tonnes) of active cathode materials. , supporting the production of up to 225,000 electric cars according to the year.
The Canadian federal government and the province of Quebec are supporting the allocation with $475 million (C$644 million) in incentives with $238 million (C$322 million) in conditional loans each.
Construction began on the more than 3 million square foot (280,000 square meter) site with a six-story building. The plant will employ 345 people, add engineers, sales and service professionals, as well as cooperative positions for academics from local universities. and schools.
EcoPro CAM Canada LP, which will be a joint venture between the 3 corporations once the transaction closes, will manufacture nickel, cobalt and manganese. EcoPro BM is expanding into North America with the plant and will oversee its daily operations. Its central hull gradient technology, according to a press release, can help achieve higher levels of functionality and greater EV autonomy. The company will also conduct studies and progress activities to develop battery safety, functionality, productivity and durability.
In addition to this collaboration, General Motors Co. et POSCO Future M announced last year the assignment of a cathode active element production plant in Bécancour. BASF SE from Germany is also building a plant here for the manufacture of battery fabrics.
“Today, we are helping to position Quebec as a key hub in the electric vehicle supply chain as we continue to build our battery ecosystem,” Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne said in a statement. “This investment is smart for the environment and the economy, and will generate well-paying jobs for years to come.
bnoble@detroitnews. com
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