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
- 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.
- GM Canada employed 8,500 workers across its Oshawa and Ingersoll plants in 2022 post-restart.
- Ford of Canada had 5,200 employees at its Oakville and Essex plants before 2022 retooling layoffs of 2,800.
- Stellantis Canada employed 9,000 workers in Windsor and Brampton in 2022, impacted by Q4 strike preparations.
- Toyota Canada had 8,500 employees at Cambridge and Woodstock plants in 2022.
- Honda Canada Manufacturing employed 4,200 workers in Alliston in 2022.
- Magna International employed 21,000 in Canada in 2022, with 60% in automotive divisions.
- Automotive R&D jobs in Canada totaled 15,000 in 2022, concentrated in Ontario and Quebec.
- Unionized auto workers numbered 70,000 under Unifor in 2022, covering Big 3 and parts suppliers.
- Women represented 22% of the automotive manufacturing workforce in Canada in 2022.
- Average hourly wage in Canadian auto assembly was $35.50 in 2022, 25% above national manufacturing average.
- Youth employment (15-24) in auto sector was 8% of total workforce in 2022.
- Supplier jobs in auto cluster around Windsor-Detroit totaled 45,000 in Ontario side 2022.
- Post-strike 2023, Stellantis rehired 1,500 laid-off workers in Windsor by year-end.
- Linamar employed 12,000 in Canada in 2022, 70% in automotive powertrain.
- Automotive engineering jobs grew 5% to 18,000 in 2022 due to EV transition.
- Indigenous employment in auto sector reached 2,500 or 2% nationally in 2022.
- Employment in auto manufacturing dropped to 120,000 by Dec 2023 post-strike.
- Unifor represented 65,000 after 2023 negotiations.
- Average wage rose to $38/hour post-2023 contracts.
Employment 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
- 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.
- Stellantis announced $1.5 billion for next-gen Jeep in Windsor 2022.
- Toyota invested $400 million in Cambridge for hybrid upgrades 2022.
- Honda's $15 billion EV supply chain investment includes $11B in Alliston announced 2022.
- Magna's R&D spend in Canada was $1.2 billion in 2022.
- Federal Zero Emission Vehicle Incentive Program allocated $1.5 billion through 2022.
- Ontario's auto sector attracted $5.2 billion in investments 2021-2022.
- Linamar announced $200 million for eDrive systems in Guelph 2022.
- Automotive R&D tax credits claimed totaled $2.8 billion in 2022.
- Quebec invested $300 million in EV battery R&D hubs 2022.
- Venture capital in Canadian auto tech startups reached $450 million in 2022.
- Total private investment in Canadian auto plants 2022: $6.8 billion.
- Patents filed in automotive tech by Canadians: 1,200 in 2022.
- In 2022, the auto industry contributed $57 billion to Canada's GDP, 2.8% of total.
- Auto FDI stock $13.5 billion end-2023.
Investment 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
- 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.
- Ford'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.
- Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada's Cambridge and Woodstock plants produced 512,000 vehicles in 2022, including RAV4 and Lexus NX models.
- Honda of Canada Manufacturing in Alliston output 410,000 Civic sedans and CR-V SUVs in fiscal year 2022.
- In Q1 2023, Canadian vehicle production reached 341,000 units, up 8.5% year-over-year despite UAW labor negotiations.
- Engine production in Canada totaled 2.1 million units in 2022, with Ford Essex Engine Plant contributing 1.2 million V8 engines.
- Transmission output from Aisin World Corp. of Canada in Georgetown was 450,000 units in 2022 for Toyota and Lexus vehicles.
- Magna International's auto parts production in Canada supported 15 million vehicle assemblies globally in 2022 from Ontario facilities.
- In 2022, Canada's auto sector manufactured 28,000 electric vehicles, representing 2.2% of total light vehicle production.
- Stellantis Brampton Assembly produced 320,000 vehicles in 2022, including Challenger, Charger, and 300 sedans before model transitions.
- Linamar Corp. produced 12 million powertrain components in Guelph facilities in 2022 for North American OEMs.
- Nemak's facility in Windsor produced 1.8 million aluminum cylinder heads for GM and Ford engines in 2022.
- In 2023, Canadian light vehicle production forecast was 1.45 million units, impacted by 44-day UAW strike costing 50,000 units.
- Toyota's Woodstock plant hit a milestone of 4 million vehicles produced cumulatively since 2008 by end of 2022.
- Honda Alliston plant's cumulative production exceeded 11 million vehicles by 2022 since opening in 1986.
- In 2021, Canada's auto production was 1.15 million vehicles, rebounding 30% from pandemic lows.
- Diesel engine production at Navistar's Chatham plant was 120,000 units in 2022 for International trucks.
- EV battery production began at Stellantis-Windsor with 10,000 units trialed in 2023 for future models.
- Production Statistics: Canada produced 1,015,000 light vehicles in 2023, down 21% from 2022 due to strikes.
- GM Oshawa Assembly produced 120,000 Ultium-based EVs in 2023 partial year.
- Ford Essex produced 1.1 million engines in 2023 despite strike impacts.
- Stellantis Windsor output 380,000 minivans and sedans in 2023.
- Toyota Cambridge produced 300,000 RAV4 hybrids in 2023.
- Honda Alliston made 380,000 Civics and CR-Vs in 2023.
- Aisin Georgetown transmissions: 420,000 units in 2023.
- Magna Brampton parts for 10 million vehicles supported in 2023.
- EV production share rose to 4.5% or 45,000 units in 2023.
- Brampton Assembly produced 290,000 units pre-strike in 2023.
Production 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
- 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.
- EV and PHEV sales reached 108,000 units in 2022, 7.3% market share.
- Average new vehicle transaction price was $48,250 CAD in Q4 2022.
- Passenger car sales were 252,000 units, 17% of total market in 2022.
- SUV/CUV sales dominated with 790,000 units, 53% market share in 2022.
- Pickup truck sales totaled 448,000 units in 2022, led by domestic brands.
- Honda CR-V sold 52,000 units, ranking 2nd overall in 2022.
- Automotive aftermarket sales generated $18.5 billion in revenue in 2022.
- Dealership revenue from new vehicles was $72 billion in 2022.
- Used vehicle sales hit 2.1 million units in 2022, average price $32,000.
- Tesla Model Y was top EV with 22,000 sales in 2022.
- Q1 2023 sales were 418,000 units, up 20% YoY.
- Ram 1500 sold 46,000 units, top full-size pickup in 2022.
- Luxury vehicle sales grew 15% to 120,000 units in 2022.
- Fleet sales accounted for 28% of total new vehicle sales in 2022.
- In 2022, automotive retail sales tax revenue to provinces was $4.2 billion.
- Sales in 2023 totaled 1,692,000 new vehicles, +13.5% YoY.
- EV sales hit 234,000 units, 13.8% share in 2023.
- Ford F-Series sold 169,000 units in 2023.
- Average transaction price $52,100 in 2023.
Sales 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
- 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.
- Ontario exported $45.6 billion in vehicles and parts to US in 2022.
- Mexico was Canada's 3rd largest auto export market with $2.1 billion in 2022.
- Auto parts imports from US were $39.2 billion in 2022.
- EU auto trade deficit for Canada was $3.5 billion in 2022, mostly imports.
- 92% of Canadian vehicle production exported, primarily to US in 2022.
- Windsor-Detroit tunnel and Ambassador Bridge handled $120 billion in auto trade in 2022.
- Japan imported $1.8 billion in Canadian auto parts in 2022, mainly transmissions.
- EV component exports grew 25% to $4.2 billion in 2022.
- Trade balance in vehicles with US was +$19.2 billion surplus for Canada in 2022.
- South Korea auto exports from Canada totaled $850 million in 2022 under CKFTA.
- China imported $600 million in specialty auto parts from Canada in 2022.
- In 2023 H1, auto exports declined 5% due to strikes, totaling $28 billion.
- Exports reached $62 billion to US in 2023.
- Vehicle exports 1,550,000 units in 2023.
Trade 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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