Toronto, Ontario -- With so many Canadian automotive aftermarket companies may be facing economic uncertainty as a result of the policies being pursued by the Trump Administration, many are adopting unconventional strategies in pursuit of profit.
Lithion's Lithium Play
Quebec's government is spending $22.5 million to help a Montreal-based startup turn an industrial suburb into a fixture of Canada's circular economy.
Lithion Technologies, a battery recycling company, is commissioning its first commercial facility in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville. The plant is designed to process up to 10,000 tonnes of lithium-ion batteries and manufacturing scrap each year, with capacity set to double as operations ramp up.
The June 20 announcement marked a key milestone for the startup, which specializes in extracting valuable metals — like lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese and graphite, from used EV, hybrid and plug-in hybrid batteries.
Its patented process recovers as much as 95 percent of battery materials, aiming to cut the carbon footprint and water use associated with raw material mining.
The Saint-Bruno plant replaces a demonstration facility and represents a cornerstone of Lithion’s plans to build a network of battery recycling hubs across North America.
Currently employing about 20 people, the site is expected to grow to 60 staff. A second facility, a hydrometallurgy plant to refine the extracted minerals into battery-grade material, is planned for 2026.
Magna all in on E-Mobility
A major Canadian auto parts manufacturer is investing in India's electric mobility market.
This week, Magna International is reported to have invested $400 million in Yulu, an Indian micromobility company that manufactures and operates shared, low‑speed two‑wheeler electric vehicles like e‑bikes and scooters.
The investment gives the Canadian auto parts behemoth the opportunity to expand into a sector growing far faster than the traditional vehicle market.
In 2022, the global e-mobility market was valued at about US$43.6 billion. By 2023, it had grown by approximately 18.6 percent year-over-year, reaching around US$51.7 billion. In 2024, the market expanded further to US$ 8.5 billion.
