Ford To Construct $900 Million Cathode Manufacturing Plant In Canada

Ford has introduced plans to construct a $900 million (1.2 billion Canadian {dollars}) cathode manufacturing plant in Canada along with South Korean companions EcoProBM and SK On.

Positioned in Bécancour, halfway between Montreal and Québec Metropolis within the province of Québec, the ability will present supplies to produce batteries for Ford’s future electrical autos, together with a few of its future pickups.

“This facility is a cornerstone for Ford Motor Co. in all of North America. That is how necessary this plant is to us,” stated Lisa Drake, vice-president of EV Industrialization for Ford Mannequin e, in response to Automotive Information Canada.

The manufacturing facility, which is able to mark Ford’s first funding in Québec, is anticipated to start manufacturing within the first half of 2026 with an estimated capability of as much as 45,000 tonnes of cathode lively supplies (CAM) per yr. The ability is a part of Ford’s plan to localize key battery uncooked materials processing in areas the place it produces EVs.

“Ford has been serving prospects in Canada for 119 years, longer than another automaker, and we’re excited to speculate on this new facility to create a vertically built-in, closed-loop battery manufacturing provide chain in North America designed to assist make electrical autos extra accessible for hundreds of thousands of individuals over time,” stated Bev Goodman, president and CEO, Ford of Canada.

“We’re excited for the chance for our first-ever funding in Québec with a brand new facility that can assist form the EV ecosystem there.”

Rendering of the EcoPro CAM Canada LP cathode manufacturing plant in Canada

The plant will likely be operated by a three way partnership referred to as EcoPro CAM Canada LP and can manufacture cathode lively supplies and, extra exactly, prime quality Nickel Cobalt Manganese (NCM) for rechargeable batteries. Ford says these merchandise are concentrating on larger efficiency ranges and improved EV vary in comparison with present merchandise, thanks partly to EcoPro’s core shell gradient (CSG) expertise.

Development has already begun on the three million square-feet website, which is able to embrace a six-floor constructing that can home roughly 345 new jobs for Canada – from engineers and gross sales and repair professionals to co-op positions for college students from native universities and faculties in Québec. 

EcoProBM will oversee the day-to-day operations of the ability, and the South Korean firm will make investments to mass produce and provide 45,000 tonnes of cathode supplies, supporting manufacturing of as much as 225,000 electrical autos yearly.

CAM is an integral a part of lithium ion battery chemistry used for the constructive electrode in battery cells. In most EV batteries available on the market immediately, CAM is a mix of lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese. 

Ford’s announcement comes two months after Normal Motors introduced a chemical battery supplies facility in the identical city of Bécancour, Québec along with South Korea’s Posco Future M. GM-Posco’s estimated whole funding within the Ultium-CAM plant is over $1 billion.