Government of Canada invests $70 million to strengthen the EV battery supply chain in Quebec

$761 million project by Volta Energy Solutions to upgrade and expand its operations in Canada

July 30, 2026 – Granby, Quebec

The global economy is undergoing profound transformation, with shifting trade relationships and evolving supply chains placing increasing pressure on Canada’s economy. Canada’s automotive industry is on the frontline of this shift, with more than 90% of Canadian-made vehicles and 60% of Canadian-made auto parts currently exported to the

U.S. As the world moves towards electrification, Canada is positioning itself as a global leader by investing strategically in our electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing capacity and critical mineral battery supply chains across the country.

That is why, today, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, announced up to $70 million in funding from the Strategic Response Fund to support Volta Energy Solutions Canada Inc. (VESC) in establishing a copper foil facility in Granby.

The Government of Canada’s investment in VESC’s $760.9 million project will enable the company to upgrade and expand an acquired facility to produce copper foil for battery cells used in EVs and energy storage systems (ESS). This investment will support the creation of 260 new jobs, and the facility will be transformative for Canada’s domestic EV supply chain, with an anticipated production capacity of 25,000 tonnes of copper foil per year starting in 2027 and plans to scale up to a total of 63,000 tonnes.

Canada is an auto nation—today, tomorrow and into the future—so the government is making strategic investments to protect jobs and strengthen the auto sector across the country. The government is delivering through its automotive strategy by making strategic decisions and generational investments that will reinforce a strong Canadian auto sector, where Canadian workers build the cars of the future.

Quotes

“Canada has what it needs to lead in the global electric vehicle revolution. With our resources and our skilled workforce, as well as the momentum created by new international partnerships like the memorandum of understanding we signed with the Republic of Korea earlier this year to advance domestic EV manufacturing opportunities, we are building a competitive, resilient battery supply chain that attracts major investments. Volta’s new battery foil plant will strengthen Quebec’s central role in our auto strategy and ensure that more of the EV value chain is anchored here at home, creating hundreds of well-paying jobs for the people of Granby and driving long-term growth for Canadian industry.”
– The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions

“We are deeply grateful for the support of the Canadian government. Through this project, we are committed to contributing to local economic revitalization and the stabilization of the North American battery supply chain. With the Canadian production base now moving into full swing following Hungary, the completeness of our global battery foil supply system has reached a new level. We will continue to build an even more robust supply foundation to meet the growing demand from North America’s EV and ESS industries.”
– Kwak Geun-man, CEO, Solus Advanced Materials

Quick facts

• Volta Energy Solutions Canada Inc. is a subsidiary of Solus Advanced Materials, a leading high-end copper foil manufacturer and a pioneer in the development of battery-grade copper foil.

• Copper foil is a key input used in the manufacturing of batteries for a range of applications, including EVs and energy storage systems. It is used as an anode collector in the batteries.

• Canada’s auto sector supports over 120,000 direct employees, contributes over $17 billion annually to Canada’s GDP, and is one of the country’s largest export industries. In 2025, Canada produced over 1.2 million passenger vehicles.

• On February 5, 2026, Prime Minister Carney announced Canada’s new automotive strategy to secure domestic manufacturing, support innovation, attract new investment in EV manufacturing and connected technologies, and diversify export markets by leveraging Canada’s free trade agreements.

• The Strategic Response Fund helps Canadian industries innovate, adapt and compete in a changing global economy. It supports large-scale, transformative projects that build economic resilience, strengthen supply chains and protect good jobs in key sectors such as steel, aluminum, automotive, forest products, AI and advanced technologies.