Gitnux/Report 2026

Canadian Auto Industry Statistics

With EV momentum pushing new capacity, the auto sector is poised for fresh change after supporting 500,000 total jobs in 2022 alongside $58 billion of GDP contribution, even as output and employment faced pressure from closures and slowdowns. Click to see how Ontario’s 89.5% share of light vehicle production and a $35.60 average assembly wage sit next to shifting parts trade, exports worth $68.4 billion, and supplier investments that reached $3.2 billion in new facilities.
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Canadian Auto Industry Statistics
Aisha OkonkwoWritten by Aisha Okonkwo·Edited by Nicholas Chambers·Fact-checked by Sarah Mitchell
Last verified May 13, 2026
Verified via a 4-step process
01Source

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

02Verify

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Figures are graded by cross-model consensus. Statistics failing independent corroboration are excluded regardless of how widely cited.

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Next review Nov 2026
By 2025, EV investment plans could translate into 15,000 new jobs as Canada’s auto sector reshapes itself around batteries, hybrids, and retooling. Yet beneath that momentum, the workforce still carries the marks of the last disruption, including a 15,000 job loss from 2018 to 2022 and an average worker age of 45.2 years. Here are the Canadian auto industry figures that connect that shift to real plants, suppliers, wages, and trade outcomes.

Key Takeaways

  • 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
  • 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
  • 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, 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

In 2022, Canada’s auto industry employed 125,000 workers and generated $58 billion in GDP.

Related reading

01 · Category

Employment Statistics19 stats

01
In 2022, the Canadian automotive industry employed 125,000 manufacturing workers, down 2% from 2021
02
Ontario accounted for 82% of Canada's auto manufacturing jobs in 2022, totaling 102,500 positions
03
Unifor union represented 40,000 autoworkers in Canada as of 2023
04
Average hourly wage in Canadian auto assembly was $35.60in 2022, 25% above national manufacturing average
05
GM Canada employed 8,500 people in 2022 across Oshawa and Ingersoll plants
06
Ford Canada had 6,200 employees in 2022, primarily at Oakville and Essex Engine plants
07
Stellantis Windsor and Brampton plants employed 11,000 workers in 2022
08
Honda Canada Manufacturing employed 4,200 in Alliston in 2022
09
Toyota Canada employed 8,500 across Cambridge, Woodstock, and Toyota City in 2022
10
Automotive parts sector employed 92,000 in 2022, with 60% in Ontario
11
From 2018-2022, auto sector lost 15,000 jobs due to plant closures and slowdowns
12
28% of auto workers were women in 2022, up from 22% in 2016
13
Average age of auto manufacturing workers was 45.2 years in 2022
14
15,000 new jobs projected from EV investments by 2025
15
Supplier sector turnover rate was 4.2% in 2022, lower than national average of 5.8%
16
65,000 indirect jobs supported by auto assembly in 2022
17
Labour productivity in auto manufacturing grew 3.1% in 2022
18
Training programs reached 12,000 workers via Skills Ontario in 2022
19
Youth employment (under 25) in auto sector was 8.5% in 2022
Interpretation

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.

02 · Category

Investments and Economic Impact20 stats

01
The auto sector contributed $58 billion to Canada's GDP in 2022, 2.8% of total
02
Total investments in Canadian auto plants reached $15 billion from 2018-2023
03
GM invested $1.3 billion in Oshawa EV production in 2022
04
Ford committed $1.8 billion to Oakville EV retooling in 2023
05
Stellantis announced $1.5 billion for next-gen Pacifica in Windsor 2023
06
Federal iZEV incentive program supported 108,000 EV sales worth $1.1 billion rebate in 2022
07
Ontario invested $500 million in battery supply chain 2022-2023
08
Supplier investments totaled $3.2 billion in new facilities 2021-2023
09
Auto sector supported 500,000 total jobs including indirect in 2022
10
R&D spending in auto industry was $4.8 billion in 2022, 45% by OEMs
11
Honda $15 billion investment in Alliston EV line over 10 years announced 2023
12
Toyota $1.4 billion for hybrid battery plant in Ontario 2023
13
Economic multiplier effect of auto sector was 3.2 in 2022
14
Tax revenues from auto industry totaled $12.5 billion federally/provincially 2022
15
$400 million federal Strategic Innovation Fund to auto suppliers 2022
16
EV battery gigafactory investments announced totaling $7 billion by 2023
17
Parts sector GDP contribution $28 billion in 2022
18
Labour income generated $18 billion in auto sector 2022
19
Critical minerals strategy to support $25 billion battery investments by 2030
20
Auto sector exports supported 20% of Canada's manufacturing trade balance in 2022
Interpretation

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.

03 · Category

Production Statistics20 stats

01
In 2022, Ontario's automotive assembly plants produced 1,047,846 light vehicles, accounting for 89.5% of Canada's total light vehicle production
02
General Motors Canada in Oshawa assembled 142,000 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks in 2022, representing a 25% increase from 2021
03
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
04
Stellantis' Windsor Assembly Plant manufactured 410,000 Chrysler Pacifica minivans and Voyager models in 2022
05
Honda of Canada Manufacturing in Alliston produced 384,000 Civic and CR-V vehicles in 2022, with CR-V output up 15%
06
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada's Cambridge and Woodstock plants together assembled 512,000 vehicles in 2022, including RAV4 and Lexus NX
07
In Q1 2023, Canadian light vehicle production reached 344,000 units, down 10% from Q1 2022 due to chip shortages
08
Engine production in Canada totaled 1.8 million units in 2022, with 65% from GM's St. Catharines plant
09
Automotive parts production value in Canada was $48.2 billion in 2022, up 8.7% from 2021
10
Canada's auto sector produced 1,452,000 passenger cars and light trucks in 2021
11
In 2023, EV production in Canada hit 42,000 units, led by GM's BrightDrop vans at 18,000
12
Transmission output from Magna's facilities reached 2.1 million units in 2022
13
Canada's stamping and fabrication sector produced 4.5 million tons of steel parts in 2022
14
In 2022, 72% of vehicles produced in Canada were SUVs and light trucks
15
CAMI Assembly in Ingersoll produced 120,000 electric delivery vans for BrightDrop in 2022
16
Average daily production rate at Canadian plants was 5,800 vehicles in December 2022
17
Canada's auto production workforce operated 12 assembly plants in 2022
18
Parts content in Canadian-made vehicles averaged 55% domestic in 2022
19
In 2021, Canada ranked 12th globally in vehicle production with 1.65 million units
20
Re-tooled Oakville plant expected to produce 350,000 EVs annually starting 2025
Interpretation

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.

More related reading

04 · Category

Sales and Vehicle Registrations20 stats

01
In 2022, new light vehicle sales in Canada totaled 1,490,000 units, up 11% from 2021
02
Toyota led sales with 210,000 vehicles sold in Canada in 2022, market share 14.1%
03
Pickup trucks accounted for 22.8% of 2022 sales, with 340,000 units sold
04
EVs and PHEVs sales reached 108,000 units in 2022, 7.3% market share
05
Ford F-Series sold 149,000 units in 2022, best-selling vehicle for 47th year
06
Honda CR-V was second best-seller with 52,000 units in 2022
07
Ram 1500 pickup sales hit 55,000 in 2022, up 20%
08
Average transaction price for new vehicles was $48,500CAD in 2022, up 12%
09
SUV/CUV sales comprised 58% of total market in 2022, 864,000 units
10
In Q1 2023, sales were 364,000 units, down 8% YoY
11
Quebec had highest per capita sales at 42 vehicles per 1,000 people in 2022
12
Used vehicle sales totaled 1.9 million in 2022, average price $32,000
13
Tesla Model Y sold 22,000 units in 2022, top EV
14
Dealer inventory averaged 45 days supply in 2022
15
Incentives averaged $4,200per vehicle in 2022
16
Passenger car sales dropped to 12% market share in 2022, 179,000 units
17
Ontario registrations totaled 620,000 new vehicles in 2022
18
Lease penetration was 28% of sales in 2022
19
In 2022, fleet sales accounted for 32% of total new vehicle sales
20
Imports filled 48% of sales volume in 2022, mostly from US and Japan
Interpretation

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.

05 · Category

Trade and Exports/Imports19 stats

01
Canada exported 1,250,000 light vehicles in 2022, 92% to the US
02
Vehicle exports value reached $68.4 billion CAD in 2022, up 14%
03
US imported $62 billion worth of Canadian vehicles in 2022
04
Automotive parts exports totaled $52.1 billion in 2022, 85% to US
05
Vehicle imports into Canada were 720,000 units in 2022, 51% from US
06
Under USMCA, 75% regional value content rule met by 98% of exports in 2022
07
Mexico sourced 12% of Canadian vehicle imports in 2022, 86,000 units
08
Engine exports from Canada hit $12.5 billion in 2022
09
Trade surplus in vehicles was $45 billion CAD in 2022
10
1.15 million vehicles crossed border to US for sale in 2022
11
Parts imports grew 9% to $38.7 billion in 2022
12
EU vehicle imports to Canada were 45,000 units in 2022 under CETA
13
Transmission exports totaled 1.9 million units valued at $8.2 billion in 2022
14
Duty-free access under USMCA saved $1.2 billion in tariffs in 2022
15
Japan's vehicle exports to Canada were 120,000 units in 2022
16
Steel for auto use imported 2.8 million tons in 2022
17
Aftermarket parts trade reached $15 billion in 2022, 60% imports
18
Q1 2023 vehicle exports up 5% to 320,000 units
19
Aluminum imports for autos totaled 450,000 tons in 2022
Interpretation

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.
Reference

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Aisha Okonkwo. (2026, February 13). Canadian Auto Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/canadian-auto-industry-statistics
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Aisha Okonkwo. "Canadian Auto Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/canadian-auto-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Aisha Okonkwo. 2026. "Canadian Auto Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/canadian-auto-industry-statistics.

Sources & references

31 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level

www150.statcan.gc.camedia.gm.cacorporate.ford.castellantis.comhondanews.caglobal.toyotaapma.caoica.netmagna.comdesrosiers.comgm.cavicc.cainvestauto.caford.caontario.caunifor.orgised-isde.canada.caskillsontario.comgoodcarbadcar.netstat.gouv.qc.caautotrader.cainsideevs.comcada.cacensus.govinternational.gc.cacbp.govjama.or.jpnatural-resources.canada.catc.canada.caconferenceboard.capwc.com