Ford of Canada's Oakville Assembly Complex

Initiative Positions Ontario, Canada’s Auto Industry for Long-term Sustainability and Growth

Oakville, CANADA — The Ontario government is matching a $295 million investment with the federal government to retool Ford of Canada’s Oakville Assembly Complex into a global hub for battery electric vehicle production. This $1.8 billion investment represents one of the most significant investments in the province’s auto sector in a generation.

“By making this investment in Ford Canada, we are ensuring Ontario continues to lead North America and the world in automotive manufacturing and innovation, while boosting our competitiveness in this key sector,” said Premier Doug Ford.

“Today’s announcement is a testament to Canada’s attractiveness as a destination for clean technology, talent, and infrastructure in the automotive industry,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. “Companies like Ford are helping accelerate our transition to a low-carbon, clean-growth economy, which will help protect our environment, drive innovation, and create many good middle-class jobs.”

“Ford’s Oakville plant directly employs over 3,000 people and will be modernized with a flexible manufacturing system able to accommodate multiple battery electric vehicle (BEV) models. It will also include the installation of a battery-pack assembly line. The Oakville Assembly Complex will become one of Ford’s highest volume BEV plants in North America, with the first electric vehicles expected to roll off the production line in 2025.

Any region seeking a long-term future in auto manufacturing must be adding value at every stage of the supply chain, particularly in the two technologies shaping the next generation of vehicles: zero-emissions and connected and autonomous,” said Vic Fedeli, Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “Bolstered by strategic government partnerships, Ontario is now at the leading edge. This ongoing collaboration between industry, government and labour will be essential as we face the immense economic challenges of COVID-19 and build for the future.”

Building electric vehicles in Ontario is a critical component in securing future investments across the electric vehicle value chain. This includes opportunities for the province’s mining industry, because electric vehicle batteries require various minerals found in Ontario’s North. In addition to securing the future of the Oakville Assembly Complex, this investment is a major win for the auto parts industry in Ontario and its 63,000 workers who help build parts and components for vehicles assembled in the province and abroad.

Quick Facts

  • Ontario is the only place in North America where five major automakers build vehicles — Fiat Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda and Toyota — as well as truck manufacturer Hino.
  • The province’s vehicle assembly facilities are supported by a supply chain comprising over 700 parts firms and over 500 tool, die and mold makers.
  • Ontario is also home to more than 250 companies and organizations active in the development of connected and autonomous vehicle technologies. This expertise is woven together by Ontario’s Autonomous Vehicle Innovation Network (AVIN).

Quotes

With the support of the federal and provincial government, Ford of Canada is investing in the future of its Ontario-based operations, solidifying its commitment to providing thousands of well-paying jobs in Ontario and becoming the first automaker in the country to build full battery-electric vehicles while delivering operational improvements that will maximize production flexibility to ensure we remain operationally competitive.
Dean Stoneley, President and CEO,
Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd.
This level of co-operation and support for the auto industry shows the very vision Ontarians are looking for from the provincial government and I commend Premier Ford for the leadership he has shown with this significant investment that will secure good jobs in Oakville for decades.
Jerry Dias, National President, Unifor

Additional Resources

Media Contacts

Lauren Nucciarone
International Marketing Unit
lauren.nucciarone@ontario.ca