From assembly lines humming with over a million vehicles to massive investments powering an electric future, Ontario's automotive heartland is steering Canada's industrial might with record-breaking production, a resilient workforce, and a strategic shift toward electrification.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Ontario's automotive assembly plants produced 1,047,846 light vehicles, accounting for 89.5% of Canada's total light vehicle production
- General Motors Canada in Oshawa assembled 142,000 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks in 2022, representing a 25% increase from 2021
- Ford Motor Company of Canada's Oakville Assembly Plant produced 248,000 vehicles in 2022 before retooling for EVs, including Edge and Lincoln Nautilus SUVs
- In 2022, the Canadian automotive industry employed 125,000 manufacturing workers, down 2% from 2021
- Ontario accounted for 82% of Canada's auto manufacturing jobs in 2022, totaling 102,500 positions
- Unifor union represented 40,000 autoworkers in Canada as of 2023
- In 2022, new light vehicle sales in Canada totaled 1,490,000 units, up 11% from 2021
- Toyota led sales with 210,000 vehicles sold in Canada in 2022, market share 14.1%
- Pickup trucks accounted for 22.8% of 2022 sales, with 340,000 units sold
- Canada exported 1,250,000 light vehicles in 2022, 92% to the US
- Vehicle exports value reached $68.4 billion CAD in 2022, up 14%
- US imported $62 billion worth of Canadian vehicles in 2022
- The auto sector contributed $58 billion to Canada's GDP in 2022, 2.8% of total
- Total investments in Canadian auto plants reached $15 billion from 2018-2023
- GM invested $1.3 billion in Oshawa EV production in 2022
Ontario's thriving automotive industry continues producing vehicles primarily for export.
Employment Statistics
- In 2022, the Canadian automotive industry employed 125,000 manufacturing workers, down 2% from 2021
- Ontario accounted for 82% of Canada's auto manufacturing jobs in 2022, totaling 102,500 positions
- Unifor union represented 40,000 autoworkers in Canada as of 2023
- Average hourly wage in Canadian auto assembly was $35.60 in 2022, 25% above national manufacturing average
- GM Canada employed 8,500 people in 2022 across Oshawa and Ingersoll plants
- Ford Canada had 6,200 employees in 2022, primarily at Oakville and Essex Engine plants
- Stellantis Windsor and Brampton plants employed 11,000 workers in 2022
- Honda Canada Manufacturing employed 4,200 in Alliston in 2022
- Toyota Canada employed 8,500 across Cambridge, Woodstock, and Toyota City in 2022
- Automotive parts sector employed 92,000 in 2022, with 60% in Ontario
- From 2018-2022, auto sector lost 15,000 jobs due to plant closures and slowdowns
- 28% of auto workers were women in 2022, up from 22% in 2016
- Average age of auto manufacturing workers was 45.2 years in 2022
- 15,000 new jobs projected from EV investments by 2025
- Supplier sector turnover rate was 4.2% in 2022, lower than national average of 5.8%
- 65,000 indirect jobs supported by auto assembly in 2022
- Labour productivity in auto manufacturing grew 3.1% in 2022
- Training programs reached 12,000 workers via Skills Ontario in 2022
- Youth employment (under 25) in auto sector was 8.5% in 2022
Employment Statistics Interpretation
While Ontario remains Canada's automotive heartland with a commanding 82% of its manufacturing jobs, the industry is navigating a cautious transformation—balancing historic wage premiums and hopeful EV investments against an aging workforce, gradual diversification, and the lingering echo of recent job losses.
Investments and Economic Impact
- The auto sector contributed $58 billion to Canada's GDP in 2022, 2.8% of total
- Total investments in Canadian auto plants reached $15 billion from 2018-2023
- GM invested $1.3 billion in Oshawa EV production in 2022
- Ford committed $1.8 billion to Oakville EV retooling in 2023
- Stellantis announced $1.5 billion for next-gen Pacifica in Windsor 2023
- Federal iZEV incentive program supported 108,000 EV sales worth $1.1 billion rebate in 2022
- Ontario invested $500 million in battery supply chain 2022-2023
- Supplier investments totaled $3.2 billion in new facilities 2021-2023
- Auto sector supported 500,000 total jobs including indirect in 2022
- R&D spending in auto industry was $4.8 billion in 2022, 45% by OEMs
- Honda $15 billion investment in Alliston EV line over 10 years announced 2023
- Toyota $1.4 billion for hybrid battery plant in Ontario 2023
- Economic multiplier effect of auto sector was 3.2 in 2022
- Tax revenues from auto industry totaled $12.5 billion federally/provincially 2022
- $400 million federal Strategic Innovation Fund to auto suppliers 2022
- EV battery gigafactory investments announced totaling $7 billion by 2023
- Parts sector GDP contribution $28 billion in 2022
- Labour income generated $18 billion in auto sector 2022
- Critical minerals strategy to support $25 billion battery investments by 2030
- Auto sector exports supported 20% of Canada's manufacturing trade balance in 2022
Investments and Economic Impact Interpretation
Canada is frantically rewiring its entire industrial engine—from critical minerals to gigafactories—with over $15 billion in recent investments, betting that a flood of EV capital can shock its auto sector back into being a 500,000-job, $58-billion economic heavyweight before the global race leaves it in the dust.
Production Statistics
- In 2022, Ontario's automotive assembly plants produced 1,047,846 light vehicles, accounting for 89.5% of Canada's total light vehicle production
- General Motors Canada in Oshawa assembled 142,000 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks in 2022, representing a 25% increase from 2021
- Ford Motor Company of Canada's Oakville Assembly Plant produced 248,000 vehicles in 2022 before retooling for EVs, including Edge and Lincoln Nautilus SUVs
- Stellantis' Windsor Assembly Plant manufactured 410,000 Chrysler Pacifica minivans and Voyager models in 2022
- Honda of Canada Manufacturing in Alliston produced 384,000 Civic and CR-V vehicles in 2022, with CR-V output up 15%
- Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada's Cambridge and Woodstock plants together assembled 512,000 vehicles in 2022, including RAV4 and Lexus NX
- In Q1 2023, Canadian light vehicle production reached 344,000 units, down 10% from Q1 2022 due to chip shortages
- Engine production in Canada totaled 1.8 million units in 2022, with 65% from GM's St. Catharines plant
- Automotive parts production value in Canada was $48.2 billion in 2022, up 8.7% from 2021
- Canada's auto sector produced 1,452,000 passenger cars and light trucks in 2021
- In 2023, EV production in Canada hit 42,000 units, led by GM's BrightDrop vans at 18,000
- Transmission output from Magna's facilities reached 2.1 million units in 2022
- Canada's stamping and fabrication sector produced 4.5 million tons of steel parts in 2022
- In 2022, 72% of vehicles produced in Canada were SUVs and light trucks
- CAMI Assembly in Ingersoll produced 120,000 electric delivery vans for BrightDrop in 2022
- Average daily production rate at Canadian plants was 5,800 vehicles in December 2022
- Canada's auto production workforce operated 12 assembly plants in 2022
- Parts content in Canadian-made vehicles averaged 55% domestic in 2022
- In 2021, Canada ranked 12th globally in vehicle production with 1.65 million units
- Re-tooled Oakville plant expected to produce 350,000 EVs annually starting 2025
Production Statistics Interpretation
In 2022, Ontario’s factories nearly built enough trucks and SUVs to replace the entire national fleet, yet their most impressive feat was somehow managing to increase production while simultaneously planning its electric future.
Sales and Vehicle Registrations
- In 2022, new light vehicle sales in Canada totaled 1,490,000 units, up 11% from 2021
- Toyota led sales with 210,000 vehicles sold in Canada in 2022, market share 14.1%
- Pickup trucks accounted for 22.8% of 2022 sales, with 340,000 units sold
- EVs and PHEVs sales reached 108,000 units in 2022, 7.3% market share
- Ford F-Series sold 149,000 units in 2022, best-selling vehicle for 47th year
- Honda CR-V was second best-seller with 52,000 units in 2022
- Ram 1500 pickup sales hit 55,000 in 2022, up 20%
- Average transaction price for new vehicles was $48,500 CAD in 2022, up 12%
- SUV/CUV sales comprised 58% of total market in 2022, 864,000 units
- In Q1 2023, sales were 364,000 units, down 8% YoY
- Quebec had highest per capita sales at 42 vehicles per 1,000 people in 2022
- Used vehicle sales totaled 1.9 million in 2022, average price $32,000
- Tesla Model Y sold 22,000 units in 2022, top EV
- Dealer inventory averaged 45 days supply in 2022
- Incentives averaged $4,200 per vehicle in 2022
- Passenger car sales dropped to 12% market share in 2022, 179,000 units
- Ontario registrations totaled 620,000 new vehicles in 2022
- Lease penetration was 28% of sales in 2022
- In 2022, fleet sales accounted for 32% of total new vehicle sales
- Imports filled 48% of sales volume in 2022, mostly from US and Japan
Sales and Vehicle Registrations Interpretation
Canada’s 2022 auto story is a surprisingly expensive and practical affair, dominated by trucks, SUVs, and Toyotas, while quietly humming with a new electric undercurrent.
Trade and Exports/Imports
- Canada exported 1,250,000 light vehicles in 2022, 92% to the US
- Vehicle exports value reached $68.4 billion CAD in 2022, up 14%
- US imported $62 billion worth of Canadian vehicles in 2022
- Automotive parts exports totaled $52.1 billion in 2022, 85% to US
- Vehicle imports into Canada were 720,000 units in 2022, 51% from US
- Under USMCA, 75% regional value content rule met by 98% of exports in 2022
- Mexico sourced 12% of Canadian vehicle imports in 2022, 86,000 units
- Engine exports from Canada hit $12.5 billion in 2022
- Trade surplus in vehicles was $45 billion CAD in 2022
- 1.15 million vehicles crossed border to US for sale in 2022
- Parts imports grew 9% to $38.7 billion in 2022
- EU vehicle imports to Canada were 45,000 units in 2022 under CETA
- Transmission exports totaled 1.9 million units valued at $8.2 billion in 2022
- Duty-free access under USMCA saved $1.2 billion in tariffs in 2022
- Japan's vehicle exports to Canada were 120,000 units in 2022
- Steel for auto use imported 2.8 million tons in 2022
- Aftermarket parts trade reached $15 billion in 2022, 60% imports
- Q1 2023 vehicle exports up 5% to 320,000 units
- Aluminum imports for autos totaled 450,000 tons in 2022
Trade and Exports/Imports Interpretation
While Canada's auto industry hums along as a formidable export engine for the United States, its own driveway reveals a more globalized and complex dependency, importing vehicles and parts from around the world to keep the economic wheels turning.
Sources & References
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