New lobbyist registry documents reveal Tesla’s intentions to expand its presence in Canada
Tesla has hinted at its plans for a Canadian facility in newly filed lobbyist registry documents, reports Electric Autonomy. The automaker is reportedly seeking opportunities for an industrial facility and mineral extraction in Ontario, indicating its intent to take greater control over its electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain, with the province being a preferred location.
The updated lobbyist registry, filed last month, specifies one of Tesla’s goals as identifying opportunities for an industrial facility, mineral extraction, and processing project permitting reforms in Ontario. The company also seeks to work with the government to identify incentives to enhance the province’s attractiveness for such projects.
This revelation comes shortly after a major announcement between the Ontario government and Volkswagen, in which the German automaker unveiled plans to construct a $7-billion factory in St. Thomas, Ontario. Volkswagen is set to receive $13 billion in subsidies from provincial and federal governments for the project.
Update: Vanessa De Matteis, press secretary for Minister of Economic Development, Victor Fedeli, replied to Electric Autonomy to say, “By reducing the cost of doing business by $8 billion annually, Ontario has seen unprecedented levels of investment into the province, including $25 billion in auto and EVs in the past two and a half years.”
“While the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade does not discuss economic prospects publicly, our government continues to seek out opportunities to promote job growth and ensure Ontario remains a competitive jurisdiction,” said De Matteis.
Rumors about Tesla’s “Gigafactory Ontario” have been circulating for months, with the company lobbying the Ontario government for “advanced manufacturing facilities” in August 2022. Since then, there have been several high-profile meetings and visits between Tesla and Ontario officials, culminating in 13 meetings over six months between Tesla lobbyists and federal government officials.
Canada is one of the few locations worldwide where nearly all critical battery minerals can be found. By expanding into mineral extraction in the country, Tesla could further vertically integrate its supply chain and potentially reduce manufacturing costs. With a strong focus on the EV battery supply chain, the provincial and federal governments are working to bring the industry back to Ontario and Quebec.
