Germany's automotive industry heavyweights, the Volkswagen Group and Mercedes-Benz, want to cooperate more closely with Canada in the future. During Chancellor Olaf Scholz's (SPD) visit to Canada, both companies signed declarations of intent on electromobility in Toronto on Tuesday.
This took place in the presence of both Scholz and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The chancellor welcomed the companies' declarations. The examples could encourage other companies to follow suit, Scholz was quoted as saying.
Outgoing Volkswagen Group CEO Herbert Diess personally signed the declaration of intent. Accordingly, his company wants to work with the Canadian government to promote e-mobility in the country and explore the potential of the Canadian automotive and battery supply chain, a VW statement said.
On the Mercedes-Benz side, Markus Schäfer, the board member responsible for development and purchasing, signed the letter of intent. Mercedes said it wants to deepen cooperation across the automotive value chain and promote economic opportunities within the Canadian electric vehicle supply chain. This includes, among other things, access to primary raw material sources.
Süddeutsche Zeitung © dpa-infocom, dpa:220823-99-486357/4