Quebec battery sector | GM is already preparing its expansion in Bécancour

On the eve of the start of their factory for manufacturing battery materials in the Bécancour. Meanwhile, General Motors (GM) industrial park and its partner are already planning the second phase of their complex – a project of several hundred millions, learned The press.

Posted at 6:00 a.m.

The guidelines for what is envisaged are in a document produced by the Office of the Privy Council. In addition, the role of which is to provide non -partisan advice to the Prime Minister and to the Cabinet, obtained under the Access to information law.

Essentially. Similarly, GM and the South Korean Géant quebec battery sector | gm Posco, grouped in the Contreprise Ultium Cam, want to add a string to their arc in Quebec territory. Similarly, Let’s go a step at a time to properly enter the case.

The 600 million factory-half of which is funded by Quebec. Consequently, Ottawa, already out of the ground in Center-du-Québec, must produce cathode materials, the positive pole of a lithium-ion battery found in electric vehicles.

There is a catch: impossible to make without raw material. Therefore, what are called “precursors of active materials” in jargon. For example, These are essentially basic ingredients in the chemical recipe.

“It is a mixture of two sets,” sums up Karim Zaghib, quebec battery sector | gm full professor at Concordia University specializing in the batteries. Meanwhile, On the one hand, there is nickel, cobalt and manganese. On the other, lithium hydroxide. Then mix them. »»

We then heat everything with high voltage to allow the equipment to become “active”. therefore capable of transmitting energy inside a battery, adds the expert. It is this last step that culture cam is preparing to start gradually in Bécancour – towards the end. of the month if everything takes place as planned.

Funding of the federal. provincial – Quebec battery sector | gm

According to our information, the American automaker and its partner are already in talks with the Governments Legault and Carney on funding.

The Document of the Office of the Privy Council specifies that federal financial support. would take place through tax credits for investment quebec battery sector | gm in the own economy. It remains to be seen how the involvement of Quebec would be available.

With regard to the first phase of the project. the Legault Government had opted for a ready-to-school-a tool where part of the loan turns into a grant when employment thresholds are respected-of 152 million.

Ultium Cam did not comment on the details obtained by The press. Nevertheless, his spokesperson, Annik Bousquet, confirmed that we were looking beyond the current site.

“Yes, other phases are planned,” she wrote, in an email.

Race against time

GM. Posco must decide without waiting too much since it remains less than three years before the commissioning of the Quebec complex of one of its main suppliers: Vale.

This quebec battery sector | gm Brazilian mining giant arrives in Quebec to produce nickel sulfate. one of the ingredients of precursor materials to make cathodes.

Once the factory was commissioned. scheduled for the end of 2027, the entire production of Vale must be sent to Ultium CAM through a power pipe. This means that the Brazilian multinational building will be built on the land of its client.

It is in this context that the American giant and its South Korean partner must prepare the ground. For Mr. Zaghib, the manufacturing phase of precursor materials is also a logical integration.

“If we were in Asia, we could observe the same sequence in manufacturers,” says the expert. Generally, all companies want to carry out vertical integration. It’s logical. »»

Promising market. despite the pitfalls

In a context considered to be more difficult for the niche of electric vehicles, GM has been able to finish the game since the beginning of the year.

In the United States. for example, the owner of the Chevrolet, GMC, Buick and Cadillac brands sold 78,167 electric models during the first six months of 2025, which is an increase of 111 % compared to last year.

The question is whether this trend will be maintained.

“The electric vehicle market remains one of the most promising in the world,” said Mr.^me Bousquet, despite the attitude of the Trump administration vis-à-vis this niche.

In terms of sales. GM remains far from number 1 in the American market, Tesla, which sold 255,000 vehicles – decreasing 13 % compared to the quebec battery sector | gm first half of 2024.

In the Canadian market. the American giant says it has sold 5,750 electric models during the months of January, February and March, which represents an increase of 252 % compared to the first quarter of 2024.

With the collaboration of William Leclerc. The press