Ontario, Canada Drives Innovation in the Automotive Sector

This August, TU-Automotive Detroit is celebrating 20 years of auto show excellence with its first ever all-digital event. With every major automaker in the world sending representatives and hundreds of speakers, this virtual show is the place to be for all things at the intersection of automotive and advanced technology.

Driving Prosperity

Between Detroit-Windsor and Ottawa lies a 500-mile corridor of automotive, connected and autonomous vehicle technology, and several artificial intelligence clusters. Last year, we assembled nearly two million vehicles and exported over $70 billion in automotive goods and services, and the automotive industry employs some 100,000 Ontarians.

One example is Ontario’s Autonomous Vehicle Innovation Network (AVIN). AVIN has committed to providing $85 million in funding over the next five years to discover the next breakthrough in autonomous vehicle technologies. This group ― which includes auto OEMs, post-secondary institutions, and IT companies ― has been funding pioneering developments in connectivity and AI to advance C/AV (connected/autonomous vehicle) technologies worldwide.

Who’s Here

Ontario’s proximity to the automotive heartland of Detroit has made it a natural destination for many major automotive manufacturers ― Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda and GM have all established factories here. These major automakers are supported by Ontario’s strong supply chain, made up of parts manufacturers, A/V specialists, IT firms, and more. Big international players like Uber and Renesas have also invested specifically in C/AV in Ontario.

Home-grown firms have also flourished in Ontario. BlackBerry QNX, headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, has software aboard over 175 million vehicles worldwide. Plus, there are hundreds of small- and medium-sized companies that provide the parts, services, and innovative technologies to make Ontario’s automotive sector one of the most robust in the world.

Learn More

Meet the Ontario companies taking part in TU-Automotive Detroit this year: visit our TU-Automotive Detroit page on SourceFromOntario.com to view company profiles and find out how to connect with them. If you’re looking to learn more about opportunities in Ontario, be sure to read more about our automotive sector.