St. Thomas is adding another major name to its growing electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing hub.
Norwegian company Vianode, a global leader in sustainable battery materials, has announced plans to build its first North American facility at Yarmouth Yards in St. Thomas — a multi-billion-dollar investment that marks a major step forward for Canada’s clean energy and critical minerals strategy.
The facility will produce low-emission synthetic graphite, a key component in lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles, grid storage, and defence applications.
myFM spoke with Sean Dyke, CEO of the St. Thomas Economic Development Corp., immediately following the announcement, and he advised that the federal government, earlier Friday, had indicated St. Thomas is to be the location of the Vianode operation.
The firm’s head office is located in Oslo, Norway.
Dyke advised that production is set to begin in 2028, with an initial investment of over $2 billion.
In January of this year, Vianode was selected as a strategic supplier of high-performance anode graphite solutions to General Motors. The multi-billion-dollar deal covers development of large-scale manufacturing capacity and supply of synthetic anode graphite.
Dyke indicated representatives from the city, including Mayor Joe Preston, visited with company officials earlier this year in Norway.
“St. Thomas has long been a leader in the automotive industry, and now we are leading the charge in the North American EV supply chain,” stressed Preston. “Vianode’s decision to invest here is a testament to our city’s talent, innovation, and commitment to a sustainable future.”
Vianode CEO Burkhard Straube said the company chose St. Thomas for its “skilled workforce, world-class infrastructure, and low-carbon electricity grid,” adding that Ontario’s clean energy and manufacturing ecosystem make it an ideal location for the facility.
The company’s process is designed to have a 90% lower carbon footprint than conventional graphite production, helping Canada advance its clean energy transition while building resilient, domestic supply chains.
The project was also featured as part of Canada’s leadership in the G7 Critical Minerals Production Alliance, which aims to strengthen international partnerships and ensure secure access to materials essential to electric vehicle and battery production.
Vianode’s new plant—dubbed Via TWO—follows the company’s successful operations in Norway, where it runs the world’s most sustainable anode graphite facility, Via ONE. The St. Thomas site will ultimately supply advanced battery materials for up to three million electric vehicles annually by 2030.
