BERLIN — Volkswagen Group and its battery subsidiary PowerCo have begun looking for a web site for the automaker’s first battery cell manufacturing facility in North America, an organization supply advised Reuters.

The supply stated Canada was “a logical choice” for the plant, which might be VW’s first gigafactory outdoors Europe.

The transfer was described as an enlargement of the memorandum of understanding signed between VW and mineral-rich Canada in August, during which they agreed to accentuate efforts to safe entry to lithium, nickel and cobalt.

Europe’s automakers have pushed to safe stakes in battery manufacturing on the continent, however the trade there’s nonetheless in its infancy.

In September, VW introduced a $2.9 billion battery components three way partnership with Belgian supplies agency Umicore.

On the hunt for a location in North America, VW board member for know-how Thomas Schmall stated: “PowerCo is about to leap throughout the Atlantic.

The framework circumstances in North America are extremely enticing. Probably the most aggressive location wins the race.”