Bécancour, Canada – Ford, SK On and EcoProBM disclosed a C$1.2 billion investment to construct a cathode manufacturing facility that will produce the components that will eventually supply the batteries for Ford's upcoming electric vehicles.
The plant will be able to generate up to 45,000 tonnes of CAM annually once production starts in the first half of 2026.
This new facility, which represents Ford's first investment in Quebec, is a major component of the automaker's strategy to localize crucial battery raw material processing in the areas where it manufactures EVs.
Bev Goodman, President and CEO, Ford of Canada said, “Ford has been serving customers in Canada.., and we’re excited to invest in this new facility to create a vertically integrated, closed-loop battery manufacturing supply chain in North America designed to help make electric vehicles more accessible for millions of people over time.”
Using EcoPro's core shell gradient (CSG) technology, EcoPro CAM Canada LP will produce cathode active materials(CAM), specifically high quality Nickel Cobalt Manganese (NCM), for rechargeable batteries that aim for higher performance levels and improved EV range in comparison to existing products.
The site's 280,000 square meters (or more than 3 million square feet) of construction will include a six-floor building that will house about 345 new jobs for Canada, including co-op positions for students from nearby universities and colleges in Québec. These jobs will range from engineers to sales and service professionals. Additionally, EcoPro CAM Canada LP will carry out research and development projects with the goal of enhancing battery performance and safety as well as productivity and reducing the environmental impact of its production process.
In February, EcoProBM formed EcoPro CAM Canada LP. Once the acquisition is finalized, SK On and Ford shall become investors; the joint venture is pending closing conditions and regulatory clearances. The facility's day-to-day operations will be supervised by EcoProBM.
The new facility is a part of SK On's efforts to guarantee a consistent supply of essential battery components in North America. In the region where demand for EVs is increasing quickly, the South Korean battery manufacturer has been actively improving its battery supply chain.
The most recent investment demonstrates SK On's commitment to taking the lead in the region's transition to electric vehicles. SK On now runs two battery factories and is adding four more with its partners in North America. After 2025, SK On's annual production capacity in North America is anticipated to surpass 180 GWh, which is sufficient to power nearly 1.7 million EVs annually.
Canada is EcoProBM's entry into North America and is the company's second international market growth after Hungary.
Jae-hwan Joo, EcoProBM CEO said that by this expansion, EcoProBM would be globalizing their cathode materials and also would like to cointribute to the development of local economy by hiring people around.
The Québec facility will constitute a significant landmark for EcoProBM's forging of the North American market through the joint venture. To enable the annual manufacture of up to 225,000 electric vehicles, EcoProBM will invest in the mass production and supply of 45,000 tonnes of cathode materials.
In Pohang, Korea, EcoProBM built a whole cathode material ecosystem in 2021, handling everything from generating lithium to recycling used batteries to creating precursors and cathode materials.
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