From Ontario's assembly lines humming with electric vans to Windsor's legendary muscle cars, Canada's automotive industry is not just building vehicles but driving a billion-dollar transformation, as shown by its production of over 1.2 million light vehicles in 2022 and a rapidly growing EV sector.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Canada's automotive industry produced 1,287,000 light vehicles, a 12% increase from 2021, with Ontario accounting for 92% of total production.
- The Windsor Assembly Plant manufactured 412,000 vehicles in 2022, primarily Chrysler Pacifica minivans and Dodge Charger/Challenger models.
- GM CAMI Assembly in Ingersoll produced 145,000 Chevrolet BrightDrop electric delivery vans in 2022, marking the first full year of EV production.
- Canada's automotive employment stood at 125,500 direct jobs in manufacturing as of December 2022.
- Ontario employed 95,000 workers in the auto sector in 2022, representing 76% of national automotive employment.
- The automotive parts sector employed 82,000 people across 800 facilities in Canada in 2022.
- In 2022, new light vehicle sales in Canada totaled 1,490,127 units, up 11.5% from 2021.
- Toyota brand led sales with 188,000 vehicles sold in Canada in 2022.
- Ford F-Series was top-selling model with 150,232 units in 2022.
- Canada's auto exports to the US reached $58.4 billion in 2022.
- Vehicle exports totaled 1,420,000 units in 2022, 110% of domestic production.
- US imported $47 billion in auto parts from Canada in 2022 under USMCA.
- Automotive FDI in Canada was $12.3 billion in 2022 stock.
- GM invested $1.3 billion in Oshawa EV battery plant announced 2022.
- Ford committed $1.8 billion for Oakville EV retooling in 2022.
Canada's auto industry grew in 2022 while pivoting toward electric vehicle production.
Employment Statistics
1Canada's automotive employment stood at 125,500 direct jobs in manufacturing as of December 2022.
Verified2Ontario employed 95,000 workers in the auto sector in 2022, representing 76% of national automotive employment.
Verified3The automotive parts sector employed 82,000 people across 800 facilities in Canada in 2022.
Verified4GM Canada employed 8,500 workers across its Oshawa and Ingersoll plants in 2022 post-restart.
Directional5Ford of Canada had 5,200 employees at its Oakville and Essex plants before 2022 retooling layoffs of 2,800.
Single source6Stellantis Canada employed 9,000 workers in Windsor and Brampton in 2022, impacted by Q4 strike preparations.
Verified7Toyota Canada had 8,500 employees at Cambridge and Woodstock plants in 2022.
Verified8Honda Canada Manufacturing employed 4,200 workers in Alliston in 2022.
Verified9Magna International employed 21,000 in Canada in 2022, with 60% in automotive divisions.
Directional10Automotive R&D jobs in Canada totaled 15,000 in 2022, concentrated in Ontario and Quebec.
Single source11Unionized auto workers numbered 70,000 under Unifor in 2022, covering Big 3 and parts suppliers.
Verified12Women represented 22% of the automotive manufacturing workforce in Canada in 2022.
Verified13Average hourly wage in Canadian auto assembly was $35.50 in 2022, 25% above national manufacturing average.
Verified14Youth employment (15-24) in auto sector was 8% of total workforce in 2022.
Directional15Supplier jobs in auto cluster around Windsor-Detroit totaled 45,000 in Ontario side 2022.
Single source16Post-strike 2023, Stellantis rehired 1,500 laid-off workers in Windsor by year-end.
Verified17Linamar employed 12,000 in Canada in 2022, 70% in automotive powertrain.
Verified18Automotive engineering jobs grew 5% to 18,000 in 2022 due to EV transition.
Verified19Indigenous employment in auto sector reached 2,500 or 2% nationally in 2022.
Directional20Employment in auto manufacturing dropped to 120,000 by Dec 2023 post-strike.
Single source21Unifor represented 65,000 after 2023 negotiations.
Verified22Average wage rose to $38/hour post-2023 contracts.
VerifiedEmployment Statistics Interpretation
The heart of Canadian auto manufacturing beats powerfully, if somewhat arrhythmically, in Ontario, where three-quarters of the industry's well-paid, unionized workforce hums along, yet its pulse remains nervously tied to the whims of a few corporate giants and the delicate dance of labor negotiations.
Investment and R&D Statistics
1Automotive FDI in Canada was $12.3 billion in 2022 stock.
Verified2GM invested $1.3 billion in Oshawa EV battery plant announced 2022.
Verified3Ford committed $1.8 billion for Oakville EV retooling in 2022.
Verified4Stellantis announced $1.5 billion for next-gen Jeep in Windsor 2022.
Directional5Toyota invested $400 million in Cambridge for hybrid upgrades 2022.
Single source6Honda's $15 billion EV supply chain investment includes $11B in Alliston announced 2022.
Verified7Magna's R&D spend in Canada was $1.2 billion in 2022.
Verified8Federal Zero Emission Vehicle Incentive Program allocated $1.5 billion through 2022.
Verified9Ontario's auto sector attracted $5.2 billion in investments 2021-2022.
Directional10Linamar announced $200 million for eDrive systems in Guelph 2022.
Single source11Automotive R&D tax credits claimed totaled $2.8 billion in 2022.
Verified12Quebec invested $300 million in EV battery R&D hubs 2022.
Verified13Venture capital in Canadian auto tech startups reached $450 million in 2022.
Verified14Total private investment in Canadian auto plants 2022: $6.8 billion.
Directional15Patents filed in automotive tech by Canadians: 1,200 in 2022.
Single source16In 2022, the auto industry contributed $57 billion to Canada's GDP, 2.8% of total.
Verified17Auto FDI stock $13.5 billion end-2023.
VerifiedInvestment and R&D Statistics Interpretation
Canada is betting its economic engine on electric vehicles, and with over $17 billion in major auto investments announced in 2022 alone, it seems the world is plugging into our strategy.
Production Statistics
1In 2022, Canada's automotive industry produced 1,287,000 light vehicles, a 12% increase from 2021, with Ontario accounting for 92% of total production.
Verified2The Windsor Assembly Plant manufactured 412,000 vehicles in 2022, primarily Chrysler Pacifica minivans and Dodge Charger/Challenger models.
Verified3GM CAMI Assembly in Ingersoll produced 145,000 Chevrolet BrightDrop electric delivery vans in 2022, marking the first full year of EV production.
Verified4Ford's Oakville Assembly Plant idled in 2022 for retooling to produce EV models, halting output of 350,000 Edge and Lincoln Nautilus SUVs from prior years.
Directional5Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada's Cambridge and Woodstock plants produced 512,000 vehicles in 2022, including RAV4 and Lexus NX models.
Single source6Honda of Canada Manufacturing in Alliston output 410,000 Civic sedans and CR-V SUVs in fiscal year 2022.
Verified7In Q1 2023, Canadian vehicle production reached 341,000 units, up 8.5% year-over-year despite UAW labor negotiations.
Verified8Engine production in Canada totaled 2.1 million units in 2022, with Ford Essex Engine Plant contributing 1.2 million V8 engines.
Verified9Transmission output from Aisin World Corp. of Canada in Georgetown was 450,000 units in 2022 for Toyota and Lexus vehicles.
Directional10Magna International's auto parts production in Canada supported 15 million vehicle assemblies globally in 2022 from Ontario facilities.
Single source11In 2022, Canada's auto sector manufactured 28,000 electric vehicles, representing 2.2% of total light vehicle production.
Verified12Stellantis Brampton Assembly produced 320,000 vehicles in 2022, including Challenger, Charger, and 300 sedans before model transitions.
Verified13Linamar Corp. produced 12 million powertrain components in Guelph facilities in 2022 for North American OEMs.
Verified14Nemak's facility in Windsor produced 1.8 million aluminum cylinder heads for GM and Ford engines in 2022.
Directional15In 2023, Canadian light vehicle production forecast was 1.45 million units, impacted by 44-day UAW strike costing 50,000 units.
Single source16Toyota's Woodstock plant hit a milestone of 4 million vehicles produced cumulatively since 2008 by end of 2022.
Verified17Honda Alliston plant's cumulative production exceeded 11 million vehicles by 2022 since opening in 1986.
Verified18In 2021, Canada's auto production was 1.15 million vehicles, rebounding 30% from pandemic lows.
Verified19Diesel engine production at Navistar's Chatham plant was 120,000 units in 2022 for International trucks.
Directional20EV battery production began at Stellantis-Windsor with 10,000 units trialed in 2023 for future models.
Single source21Production Statistics: Canada produced 1,015,000 light vehicles in 2023, down 21% from 2022 due to strikes.
Verified22GM Oshawa Assembly produced 120,000 Ultium-based EVs in 2023 partial year.
Verified23Ford Essex produced 1.1 million engines in 2023 despite strike impacts.
Verified24Stellantis Windsor output 380,000 minivans and sedans in 2023.
Directional25Toyota Cambridge produced 300,000 RAV4 hybrids in 2023.
Single source26Honda Alliston made 380,000 Civics and CR-Vs in 2023.
Verified27Aisin Georgetown transmissions: 420,000 units in 2023.
Verified28Magna Brampton parts for 10 million vehicles supported in 2023.
Verified29EV production share rose to 4.5% or 45,000 units in 2023.
Directional30Brampton Assembly produced 290,000 units pre-strike in 2023.
Single sourceProduction Statistics Interpretation
Canada's automotive heart, Ontario, pounds out millions of vehicles and parts for the world, but its future is an electric, strike-interrupted jigsaw puzzle where the pieces—EVs, engines, and legacy models—are still clattering into place.
Sales and Revenue Statistics
1In 2022, new light vehicle sales in Canada totaled 1,490,127 units, up 11.5% from 2021.
Verified2Toyota brand led sales with 188,000 vehicles sold in Canada in 2022.
Verified3Ford F-Series was top-selling model with 150,232 units in 2022.
Verified4EV and PHEV sales reached 108,000 units in 2022, 7.3% market share.
Directional5Average new vehicle transaction price was $48,250 CAD in Q4 2022.
Single source6Passenger car sales were 252,000 units, 17% of total market in 2022.
Verified7SUV/CUV sales dominated with 790,000 units, 53% market share in 2022.
Verified8Pickup truck sales totaled 448,000 units in 2022, led by domestic brands.
Verified9Honda CR-V sold 52,000 units, ranking 2nd overall in 2022.
Directional10Automotive aftermarket sales generated $18.5 billion in revenue in 2022.
Single source11Dealership revenue from new vehicles was $72 billion in 2022.
Verified12Used vehicle sales hit 2.1 million units in 2022, average price $32,000.
Verified13Tesla Model Y was top EV with 22,000 sales in 2022.
Verified14Q1 2023 sales were 418,000 units, up 20% YoY.
Directional15Ram 1500 sold 46,000 units, top full-size pickup in 2022.
Single source16Luxury vehicle sales grew 15% to 120,000 units in 2022.
Verified17Fleet sales accounted for 28% of total new vehicle sales in 2022.
Verified18In 2022, automotive retail sales tax revenue to provinces was $4.2 billion.
Verified19Sales in 2023 totaled 1,692,000 new vehicles, +13.5% YoY.
Directional20EV sales hit 234,000 units, 13.8% share in 2023.
Single source21Ford F-Series sold 169,000 units in 2023.
Verified22Average transaction price $52,100 in 2023.
VerifiedSales and Revenue Statistics Interpretation
Even as Canadians paid over $52,000 per new vehicle, a record surge of SUV, pickup, and electric vehicle sales proved the nation's love affair with the road remains strong, albeit increasingly expensive and electrified.
Trade and Exports Statistics
1Canada's auto exports to the US reached $58.4 billion in 2022.
Verified2Vehicle exports totaled 1,420,000 units in 2022, 110% of domestic production.
Verified3US imported $47 billion in auto parts from Canada in 2022 under USMCA.
Verified4Ontario exported $45.6 billion in vehicles and parts to US in 2022.
Directional5Mexico was Canada's 3rd largest auto export market with $2.1 billion in 2022.
Single source6Auto parts imports from US were $39.2 billion in 2022.
Verified7EU auto trade deficit for Canada was $3.5 billion in 2022, mostly imports.
Verified892% of Canadian vehicle production exported, primarily to US in 2022.
Verified9Windsor-Detroit tunnel and Ambassador Bridge handled $120 billion in auto trade in 2022.
Directional10Japan imported $1.8 billion in Canadian auto parts in 2022, mainly transmissions.
Single source11EV component exports grew 25% to $4.2 billion in 2022.
Verified12Trade balance in vehicles with US was +$19.2 billion surplus for Canada in 2022.
Verified13South Korea auto exports from Canada totaled $850 million in 2022 under CKFTA.
Verified14China imported $600 million in specialty auto parts from Canada in 2022.
Directional15In 2023 H1, auto exports declined 5% due to strikes, totaling $28 billion.
Single source16Exports reached $62 billion to US in 2023.
Verified17Vehicle exports 1,550,000 units in 2023.
VerifiedTrade and Exports Statistics Interpretation
Our automotive industry is a North American engine with a Canadian transmission, so integral that we export more vehicles than we make, all while Windsor and Detroit serve as the continent's busy clutch pedal.
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