Automotive's Great White North

Though centered around the Great Lakes, Canada’s auto industry spreads throughout the country, contributing $19 billion annually to its gross domestic product (GDP).

5 automakers with plants

• Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) – Dodge Charger, Challenger, Grand Caravan; Chrysler Pacifica, 300

• Ford Motor Co. – Ford Edge, GT, Flex; Lincoln MKT, MKX

• General Motors (GM) – Chevrolet Equinox, Silverado; GMC Sierra; Cadillac XTS

• Honda – Civic, CR-V

• Toyota – Toyota Corolla, Rav4; Lexus RX 350, RX 450h

700 parts suppliers

Tier 1 companies include Magna, Linamar, Martinrea; others have headquarters in Canada

125,000 people

directly employed in auto manufacturing

400,000 people
employed in aftermarket services, dealership networks

Research Centers

• MacAUTO: McMaster University, Institute for Automotive Research and Technology – Automotive R&D across several faculties and facilities, electric and hybrid powertrains, mechatronics and materials

• University of Windsor – Automotive engineering, research partnerships

• WatCAR: University of Waterloo’s Centre for Automotive Research – Automotive innovation enhancement and competitiveness

• UOIT: University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Automotive Centre of Excellence – Climatic wind tunnel, other facilities

• NRC: National Research Council Canada, Automotive and Surface Transportation – Light materials, composites, alternative propulsion, safety

• Fraunhofer Project Centre for Composites Research – Composite technologies

• CanmetMaterials Laboratory – metals, materials, processing research

• IVI: Innovative Vehicle Institute – Electric/hybrid traction, energy efficiency, vehicle intelligence

• PMG Technologies – Complete motor vehicle test center, compliance, validation, development

• InnovÉÉ – Electrification of transportation, distribution, storage, use

• MILA: Montreal Institute for Learning Algorithms – Artificial intelligence (AI), computer vision applications

• Manitoba Vehicle Technology Centre – Product and process innovation, engineer training

• Composites Innovation Centre – Design, testing, prototyping

Source: https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/auto-auto.nsf/eng/home