Citing sources, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. broke the news of this week's meeting first.
Reuters
OTTAWA: In response to a news story that the automaker was considering constructing an approximately 2 trillion yen ($13.9 billion) electric vehicle facility in the nation, Canadian authorities are meeting with representatives of Honda Motor this week, a government source said.
The source, who was not permitted to comment on the record but was familiar with the subject, said that many federal agencies will be involved in the Ottawa meetings.
The meeting this week was originally reported by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., which cited sources.
When asked if company representatives will be meeting with Canadian officials this week, Honda declined to comment. According to a Honda representative in Tokyo, there was nothing that company could reveal at this time.
Honda is considering a number of possible locations for the facility, including close to an existing auto manufacturing in Alliston, Ontario, according to a story published on Sunday by Japan's Nikkei news organization.
According to the article, Honda plans to decide by the end of 2024 and start operating the new plant as early as 2028.
As with all other significant possible investors, federal government personnel are in constant communication with Honda, according to Audrey Champoux, a spokesman for Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne.
Canada has a "strong relationship" with the firm, she added.
As the globe looks to reduce carbon emissions, Canada, which has a sizable mining industry, has courted businesses at every stage of the electric vehicle supply chain to protect the future of its manufacturing hub in Ontario.
The Canadian government will provide Volkswagen and Stellantis-LG Energy Solution with significant funding for their proposed battery gigafactories in the nation. According to the government, these "anchors" will aid in the nation's EV supply chain expansion.
The second-largest automaker in Japan, Honda, has been sluggish to increase its sales of electric cars. In 2022, the company and its partner LG Energy Solution announced that a $4.4 billion joint venture battery facility will be built in Ohio.