Ford plans to build $1.2B EV battery facility in Québec

Key Takeaways:

• Construction has begun on the 280,000 square-meter site and will include a six-floor building that will house approximately 345 new jobs.
• The plant is part of Ford’s strategy to localize key battery raw material processing in regions where it produces EVs.
• SNC-Lavalin has been awarded an initial works contract for the facility worth $141 million.

The Whole Story

SK On, EcoProBM and Ford will invest $1.2 billion to build a cathode manufacturing facility in Quebec. The facility will provide materials that ultimately supply batteries for Ford’s future electric vehicles.

Once production begins in the first half of 2026, the site will have the capacity to produce up to 45,000 tonnes of cathode active material (CAM) per year.

This new facility – Ford’s first investment in the province – is part of the automaker’s plan to localize key battery raw material processing in regions where it produces EVs.

“Ford has been serving customers in Canada for 119 years, longer than any other automaker, 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,” said Bev Goodman, president and CEO, Ford of Canada. “We’re excited for the opportunity for our first-ever investment in Québec with a new facility that will help shape the EV ecosystem there.”

SNC-Lavalin has been award the initial works contract for the facility worth approximately $141 million. It represents SNC-Lavalin’s first major mandate in the EV battery market in Canada.

EcoPro CAM Canada LP will manufacture cathode active materials and, more precisely, high quality Nickel Cobalt Manganese (NCM) for rechargeable batteries that are targeting greater performance levels and improved EV range compared to existing products, thanks in part to EcoPro’s core shell gradient (CSG) technology.

Construction has begun on the 280,000 square-meter site and will include a six-floor building that will house approximately 345 new jobs – from engineers and sales and service professionals to co-op positions for students from local universities and colleges in Québec. EcoPro CAM Canada LP also will pursue research and development activities aiming at increasing battery safety and performance as well as increasing productivity and minimizing the environmental footprint of its manufacturing process.

EcoProBM established EcoPro CAM Canada LP in February. SK On and Ford will become investors once the deal is closed; the joint venture is subject to closing conditions and regulatory approvals. EcoProBM will oversee the day-to-day operations of the facility.

The project team noted that support from both the federal and provincial governments was vital to securing the joint investment .

“This investment once again shows that Canada is the green strategic partner of choice for world leaders in the automobile industry,” said The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, minister of innovation, science and industry. “Today, we are helping to further position Quebec as a key hub in the electric vehicle supply chain, as we continue to build our battery ecosystem. This investment is good for the environment and for the economy, and it will ensure well-paying jobs for years to come.”