A venture between SK On, South Korea’s largest energy company, South Korean material company EcoProBM and Ford Motor Co. plan to build a C$1.2 billion cathode manufacturing facility in Bécancour Quebec, advancing Quebec’s goal of attracting electric vehicle production facilities.

The new plant is expected to provide key materials for batteries that will ultimately power Ford’s electric vehicles, employing 345 workers to help produce an average of 45,000 tonnes of cathode active materials for Ford vehicles after it opens in the first half of 2026. The facility will encompass 3 million square feet and include a six-floor building.

This will be EcoProBM's first plant in North America. The specialized cathode material producer, which was spun off from its parent company EcoPro in May 2016, also has a plant in Hungary.

SK On and Ford will become investors once the deal is closed, subject to regulator approvals, with EcoProBM overseeing day-to-day operations of the facility making cathode active materials or, more precisely, Nickel Cobalt Manganese used in rechargeable batteries that are targeting greater performance levels and improved EV range compared to existing EV batteries

Canada’s federal and provincial governments will help pay some bills, as the feds agreed to provide a conditional contribution of $322 million, while Quebec will provide a forgivable loan of the same amount.

The province of Quebec has made a significant effort to attract the EV battery industry to Bécancour, which is set in a remote spot across the river from the city of Trois Rivières, midway between Montreal and Quebec City.

Workers toiled through cold weather last winter to build infrastructure for several upcoming builds in the park, as witnessed by CoStar News, which was given an exclusive tour of the facilities. The work undertaken aims to prepare for the arrival of several battery-related ventures which will occupy the site, including GM Posco, which began construction on its facility in early June.

The sprawling industrial park can ship goods by rail, river or road, as it offers both port and railway access. The province recently expanded the park earlier this summer with the purchase of an adjacent industrial park property to the east, located at the foot of the decommissioned Gentilly-2 nuclear power reactor.

Quebec’s determination to make the park an exclusive domain for car battery production was demonstrated by a $30.5 million deal the province struck to buy a portion of the park back from plastics manufacturer Loop Industries, which had paid $5.9 million for its property two years earlier.

François Legault, premier of Quebec commented on the project in a press release. “We are laying the foundations for an industry that will allow Quebec to become a leader in both the North American and the global green economy.

The energy transition gives us the opportunity to make our mark in the new economy and increase prosperity while helping reduce global GHG emissions," he stated.

Legault's cabinet colleague, Pierre Fitzgibbon, who has closely overseen the progress of the park, added, "We're sending a clear signal: with its natural resources and clean energy, Quebec is one of the world's most attractive places for global leaders in this industry of the future."

The project represents Ford’s first-ever project in Quebec, which was once known for its connection to General Motors. “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 said in a statement.

Quebec is also believed to be in the running for a future battery plant from Swedish-based Northvolt, in Saint Basile le Grand, closer to Montreal.