Automotive

Quick Facts Companies 370 Employees 13,000 Exports $4.6 billion (104 countries) The Waterloo Region is located within Ontario’s automotive assembly and parts manufacturing corridor, home to 90% of Canada’s motor vehicle production and 95% of Canada’s automotive parts production. In addition to the Toyota plant in Cambridge, the Waterloo Region lies within an hour-and-a-half of major assembly complexes: Honda/Alliston; CAMI/Ingersoll; DaimlerChrysler/Brampton; Ford/Oakville; Ford/St. Thomas; and GM/Oshawa.

"Manufacturing is all about people and I believe that we have some of the best people in the world right here in Ontario. That is why we have been so successful." -(Ray Tanguay, President Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada) Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada expanded its operation in Cambridge in 2008, becoming the first plant outside of Japan to produce a Lexus vehicle. Plants in Cambridge and nearby Woodstock (started producing RAV4 in 2008) produced 302,749 units in 2007.

Next Generation Cars - The Green Push

Researchers at institutions in the Waterloo Region are at the forefront of the green revolution's convergence with the auto industry.  General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Decoma, Intier and Linamar all conduct R&D in the Waterloo Region because all the ingredients needed for success are here: leading minds working at world-class research facilities; exceptional R&D tax credits; and effective technology transfer programs (including amenable intellectual property rights access from Region academic institutions).

The Waterloo Centre for Automotive Research (WatCAR), located at the University of Waterloo, is Canada’s premier automotive research centre, with a track record for successful applied industrial projects. WatCAR has more than 75 automotive researchers – the largest university-based automotive activity in Canada – involved in key technology enabling research working in partnership with automotive manufacturers, parts and materials suppliers and government agencies. Major areas of research include wireless communications, vehicle lightweighting and the BioCar initiative.

The Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy (WISE), located at the University of Waterloo, is a recognized leader in promoting innovation through research in the development and deployment of sustainable energy systems, including hybrid and fuel cell vehicle power systems and new technologies for diesel engines. Key areas of research include the Green Auto Powertrain project.