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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

SK On-EcoProBM-Ford Plan Becancour, Quebec, Canada, Cathode Manufacturing Operations

08/23/2023
SK On, EcoProBM and Ford Motor Company plan to establish a cathode manufacturing facility in Bécancour, Quebec, Canada. The C$1.2 billion project is expected to create 345 jobs.

The more than 3-million-square-foot facility will have the capacity to produce up to 45,000 tonnes of CAM per year and will provide materials that ultimately supply batteries for Ford’s future electric vehicles. Production is scheduled for the first half of 2026.

“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.”

The joint venture between SK On and Ford is subject to closing conditions and regulatory approvals. EcoProBM will oversee the day-to-day operations of the facility.

“Through the cathode JV, the three companies can have a stable supply of battery raw materials in North America,” noted SK On Chief Commercial Officer Min-suk Sung. “We will continue to work with our partners to lead electrification of the global auto market.”

SK on is helping build a new generation of mobility that will create cleaner, more convenient forms of transportation. The company’s high-efficiency, high-capacity lithium-ion batteries are designed for safety, and to charge faster and travel further on every charge.

“By expanding here in North America, EcoProBM looks forward to globalizing our growth in cathode materials, which has been a unique strength of our company,” added Jae-hwan Joo, EcoProBM CEO. “We also are prepared to contribute to the community in Canada and Québec and contribute to the development of the local economy, including by hiring locally.”

ECOPRO BM, which was spun off from its parent company ECOPRO by means of physical division for specialization in cathode materials, is a company which leads the high volume cathode material market at home and abroad based on its success in developing and mass-producing high-nickel cathode materials for the first time in Korea.

“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.”

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