Business View Magazine | September 2022

7 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 9 O p e n i n g L i n e s CANADA STRIKES HISTORIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH LEADING GERMAN VOLKSWAGEN AND MERCEDES TO HELP MEET GROWING DEMAND F TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS A major milestone that could lead to new investments, cementing Canada’s position as the green supplier of choice for electric vehicles and batteries C anada’s automotive future is founded on maximizing the benefits of our natural resources and adding value to global supply chains for electric vehicles and batteries. The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, recently announced historic partnerships with two leading German automakers in the form of memoranda of understanding with Volkswagen AG and Mercedes-Benz AG. These agreements will further collaboration with two innovative global players across a range of sectors, help secure Canada’s position as a leading centre of excellence for the manufacturing of electric vehicles and batteries and help ensure that Canada is a destination for investments in this space. The Volkswagen agreement focuses on deepening cooperation on sustainable battery manufacturing, cathode active material production and critical mineral supply, among others, and on setting up a Canadian office for PowerCo, Volkswagen’s newly formed battery company. The Mercedes-Benz agreement focuses on