ECOPROBM, SK ON AND FORD INVEST IN CATHODE PLANT IN QUÉBEC

By Piero Facchin

SK On, EcoProBM and Ford have announced a C$1.2 billion investment to build a cathode manufacturing plant that will supply materials that will eventually be used in 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 CAM per year. The new plant—Ford’s first investment in Québec—is part of the automaker’s plan to locate the processing of key battery raw materials in regions where it produces electric vehicles.

“Ford has been serving customers in Canada for 119 years, longer than any other automaker, and we’re delighted 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 batteries. More accessible vehicles for millions of people over time,” said Bev Goodman, President and CEO of Ford of Canada. “We are thrilled by the opportunity of our first-ever investment in Québec with a new facility that will help shape the electric vehicle ecosystem there.”

Unique skin technology 

EcoPro CAM Canada LP will manufacture cathode-active materials and, more specifically, high-quality nickel-cobalt manganese (NCM) for rechargeable batteries that target higher performance levels and improved EV range over existing products, thanks in part to its core EcoPro envelope technology.

Construction has begun on the 280,000-square-metre (or more than 3 million-square-foot) site, and will include a six-storey building that will house approximately 345 new jobs for Canada—from engineers and sales professionals to co-op job services for students at local Québec universities and colleges. EcoPro CAM Canada LP will also pursue research and development activities aimed at enhancing battery safety and performance, as well as increasing productivity and minimizing the environmental footprint of its manufacturing process.

The latest investment also shows that SK On, which currently operates two battery plants, and is adding four more with its partners in North America, is committed to leading the way in the region’s transition to electric vehicles. SK On’s annual production capacity in North America is expected to reach over 180 GWh after 2025, enough to power around 1.7 million electric vehicles a year.