March 15, 2023, Toronto– Accelerate welcomes Volkswagen Group Canada Inc. as
the newest member of Canada’s Zero-Emission Vehicle supply chain.
“We are thrilled to have Volkswagen Group Canada Inc. on board as we continue to develop a robust zero-emission
vehicle supply chain in Canada,” said Matthew Fortier, President and CEO of Accelerate. “Volkswagen Group is
committed to being a leader in electric mobility and has recognized Canada’s importance in the rapidly growing
battery technology industry, as evidenced by its choice of St. Thomas, Ontario, for its first overseas
gigafactory for battery cell manufacturing.”
As demand for EV batteries and their raw material inputs continues to grow exponentially, Canada’s ideal
conditions, including a domestic supply of raw materials, a skilled workforce, and wide access to clean
electricity, are becoming more and more attractive to global players.
“Our industry is rapidly shifting towards an electric future,” said Pierre Boutin, CEO of Volkswagen Group Canada
Inc.. “With the announcement that PowerCo. SE, a subsidiary of Volkswagen Group AG, will be constructing a
battery cell manufacturing facility in Canada, Volkswagen has placed itself into the fast lane when it comes to
the battery supply industry in Canada, and throughout North America.”
Volkswagen’s decision to open in Canada represents an important anchor investment in our pursuit of a Zero
Emission Vehicle (ZEV) industry and signals a step forward for Canada’s emerging battery supply chain.
Accelerate convenes and coordinates activities between the private and public sectors and civil society to help
create a shared vision for Canada in the zero-emission vehicle supply chain. Through this work, Accelerate
members such as Volkswagen are committed to ensuring Canada is a key player in the North American and global ZEV
ecosystems.
The next step for Canada is to work with manufacturers and with suppliers to unlock value-added activities both
upstream and downstream as a fully integrated supply chain is developed in North America and to build our
capacity to develop, commercialize, and scale-up domestic innovations, including battery innovations.
About Accelerate
The Accelerate Alliance is a national initiative bringing together key players across Canada’s Zero Emission
Vehicle (ZEV) supply chain, from mining to battery R&D, commercialization, parts and vehicle assembly and
charging infrastructure. Accelerate enables this emerging industry to collaborate, strategize and advocate for
priorities that will catalyse the development of a ZEV supply chain in Canada.
Accelerate is a rapidly growing community of companies, organizations and associations
representing all sectors of the ZEV supply chain. A full list of members can be found here
Volkswagen Group Canada
Headquartered in Ajax, Ontario, Volkswagen Group Canada Inc. offers Canadian drivers exceptional vehicles,
along with expert service through its nationwide network of dealers. Volkswagen Group Canada Inc. is
comprised of three brands: Volkswagen Canada, Audi Canada, and Automobili Lamborghini Canada.
Volkswagen Group Canada Inc. is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG headquartered in Wolfsburg,
Germany – Europe’s largest automaker and one of the world’s leading manufacturers of automobiles and commercial
vehicles. With its program “TOGETHER – Strategy 2025”, the Group is laying the foundations for becoming a global
leader of sustainable mobility.
Building Canadian Power in Advanced Battery Materials
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s trip to Beijing this week resulted in a trade agreement that will permit up to 49,000 Chinese EVs to enter Canada.
As the Canada Strong Budget (2025) deploys $280 billion in capital investments over five years, Canada’s battery sector is experiencing a rare alignment of political will, infrastructure funding, and market demand.
Accelerate supports the Canada Strong Budget and its measures to develop sovereign supply chains for electric vehicles and batteries
Here is what Canada needs to do…
