Canada lures Volkswagen’s new battery plant north by matching billions in subsidies offered by US
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced a massive deal with German automaker Volkswagen Group to implement its first electric vehicle plant outside of Europe in the country. Canada has promised the group billions in matched subsidies offered by the US government to construct its massive new battery gigafactory north.
While it was still under the tutelage of ousted CEO Herbert Diess, Volkswagen Group publicly outlined plans for six new battery gigafactories throughout Europe this decade, including a site in Skellefteå, Sweden, through a joint venture with NorthVolt scheduled to open this year.
This past February, VW Group announced that its Seat sub-brand would be revamping its production facilities in Spain to include a new battery facility for other group EVs as well. With three battery plants under construction and four more planned, Volkswagen Group suddenly paused development to await the EU’s response to the US Inflation Reduction Act.
Volkswagen Group then turned its battery production focus to North America. This past December, new CEO Oliver Blume called Canada “one logical option.” By March, however, the US appeared to be the clear target for the Group as it shared it was anticipating claiming between $9.5-$10.5 billion in subsidies and loans from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) over the lifetime of its pending battery plant.
As a free trade partner with the US looking to stay relevant in a booming EV production landscape, Canada said, “Sorry, not so fast.” Canada’s industry minister was able to negotiate a deal with Volkswagen that matches those US subsidies in exchange for building the battery factory a bit further north.
Volkswagen battery deal helps Canada keep pace with IRA
In order to lure Volkswagen Group to Canada, the government has agreed to subsidies that could top CAD 13 billion ($9.7 billion) over the course of the next decade that the battery plant is in operation. When complete, the new facility will be operated under Volkswagen Group’s PowerCo business unit and could very well become the largest manufacturing site in the entire country.
Prime Minister Trudeau’s industry minister François-Philippe Champagne negotiated the landmark contract, which will not only provide annual production subsidies to Volkswagen but also includes a CAD 700 million ($517M) grant toward the battery factory’s capital cost.
According to government officials, these negotiated terms match what VW would have received in subsidies from the US government should it have chosen the states as its new home. What’s more clever is that the negotiated deal is proportional to the Inflation Reduction Act. If the US subsidies go away, so do Volkswagen’s in Canada. If they are reduced, Canada’s will too.
Despite losing the bid, the US is still home to ID.4 production at its Chattanooga, Tennessee, plant, which will soon be joined by a new production facility to build upcoming Scout brand EVs in South Carolina.
As a North American country and free trade partner with the US, battery packs assembled in Canada should still enable some level of federal tax credits on future Volkswagen EVs in the US under new terms outlined in the Inflation Reduction Act, including fresh battery guidance detailed by the US Department of Treasury earlier this month.
While not everyone in Canada is elated by the eleven-figure financial commitment to Volkswagen, the industry minister argues the economic value the automaker brings to the country and its supply chain is worth far more than the subsidies. Champagne and his colleagues believe that to protect Canada’s position in automotive production, especially as it goes all-electric, the country must transcend the role as a mere source of critical minerals and become a genuine contributor to advanced EV manufacturing and zero emissions technology.
Being about two hours northeast of an automotive mecca like Detroit should help, as that’s where Volkswagen’s Canadian facility is being planned. It’s expected to have a footprint equivalent to 350 football fields and will create thousands of jobs in Ontario. Champagne stated that over the next 30 years, the Volkswagen battery plant is expected to generate over CAD 200 billion in value for Canada. If true, this deal could end up being worth tenfold in the long term.
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On today’s extreme episode of Quick Charge, we’ve got the most affordable new EV in America packing 255 miles of range, sub-30 minute charging, V2H support, and more – all that for a price about $10,000 LESS than that new “affordable” Tesla.
We’ve also got specs for the all-new, all-electric Ferrari Elettrica and a world’s first, hydrogen-powered autonomous farm tractor from Kubota.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Climate XChange, a nonpartisan nonprofit working to help states pass effective, equitable climate policies. The nonprofit just kicked off its 10th annual EV raffle, where participants have multiple opportunities to win their dream model. Visit CarbonRaffle.org/Electrek to learn more.
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Momentum, the lifestyle-focused urban bike brand under Giant Group, has just launched the latest version of its popular Vida E+ electric bike – and this one’s all about making e-biking smoother, safer, and more accessible to riders of all experience levels.
The updated Vida E+ features a new 500W SyncDrive Move S motor offering 60Nm of torque and pedal assist up to 28 mph, designed to provide natural-feeling power whether you’re cruising to work or just exploring around town. The system uses a combination of sensors to analyze torque, speed, and cadence, automatically adjusting power output to match your pedaling effort.
According to Momentum, the motor engages with as little as 4Nm of pedal pressure and just 10° of crank movement, giving riders what they describe as an ultra-smooth and effortless start every time.
A new optional throttle adds another layer of convenience, letting riders cruise at speeds up to 20 mph without pedaling, which should be perfect for hills, traffic-heavy starts, or when you just want to relax and take it easy on the way home. The bike’s EnergyPak 700 battery provides up to a claimed 55 miles (88 km) of range on pedal assist or 43 miles (69 km) on throttle-only riding.
The Vida E+ also leans hard into comfort and safety. It sports a low-step aluminum frame for easy on-and-off, an 80 mm suspension fork, and wide 26×2.4-inch tires for stability and plushness. Four-piston hydraulic disc brakes ensure solid stopping power, while a new automatic motor cutoff feature stops assistance as soon as the brakes engage. The bike is UL 2849 certified, meaning it meets top-tier safety standards for batteries and electronics, which is a growing priority in the e-bike world as more cities and states consider requiring safety certification as a prerequisite.
With support for up to 300 pounds (136 kg) total load and optional racks front and rear, the Vida E+ is also built for everyday utility. And on the tech side, momentum’s RideControl app lets riders fine-tune speed and assistance, lock or unlock the bike electronically, and monitor battery health.
The new Momentum Vida E+ is available now through Giant Group’s nationwide dealer network with an MSRP of US$2,480.
Returning from a recall on its previous bike, Giant Group will now have an opportunity to see how the new version of the Momentum Vida E+ will fare.
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VW’s US EV lease deals just went from hero to zero. Federal tax credits are now dead, the automaker has wiped out up to $12,000 in lease incentives on the ID.4, and ended $10,500 in discounts on the ID. Buzz. The move bucks the trend as other brands continue to sweeten their EV lease offers.
As of September 30, 2025, Volkswagen offered up to $12,350 in lease cash on the ID.4, depending on configuration. That included a $7,500 federal lease tax credit for lessees as Bonus Customer Cash, plus $3,500 to $4,850 in Dealer Lease Cash. It made the ID.4 one of the top EV lease deals around.
On October 1, those incentives vanished. While the ID.4 still has a 0% APR equivalent lease rate, drivers lost more than $12,000 in savings overnight. The ID. Buzz took a similar hit. Last month, the 2025 ID. Buzz offered $10,500 off MSRP between the $7,500 tax credit and $3,000 Dealer Lease Cash. Now, almost all lease cash is gone. VW Credit is offering just $750 in Dealer Lease Cash, and weirdly, not on models with two-tone paint. According to CarsDirect’s lease calculator, the lowest-priced ID. Buzz trim now carries an effective monthly cost topping $1,000 — a considerable jump.
For comparison, the ID. Buzz Pro S was previously advertised at $589 a month for 36 months with $5,999 due at signing, or an effective monthly cost of $756.
The ID.4 lease once cost just $233 a month, making it one of the cheapest EVs to lease. According to updated estimates, that figure is now north of $800 – that’s hair-raising.
Meanwhile, VW’s rivals are going in the opposite direction. Ford extended its Mustang Mach-E lease deals through early January. Subaru’s updated 2026 Solterra still qualifies for the $7,500 lease credit, and Jeep replaced the expiring EV lease credit with equivalent bonus cash.
If you really want a Volkswagen, though, there’s some good news: financing deals haven’t changed. The 2025 ID.4 continues to offer 0% APR for 72 months, and buyers of the ID. Buzz can still get up to $3,250 in Bonus Customer Cash through November 3, a perk unavailable to lessees.
It kinda seems like VW doesn’t want to lease their EVs anymore…?? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
Read more: From $189 a month: 5 of the best EV lease deals in October
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