Ontario Highlights Industry Strengths at Detroit Auto Show

ONTARIO, Canada, Jan. 14, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The province of Ontario, Canada showcased its strengths as a powerhouse for automotive innovation and advanced manufacturing this week at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Yesterday, the Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure, Brad Duguid, wrapped up a two-day visit to promote Ontario's automotive leadership and advocate for new investment.

Minister Duguid attended alongside federal Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, Navdeep Bains, to demonstrate the close collaboration between Canada's federal and provincial governments to foster a vibrant auto sector.

Ontario's vehicle assembly and auto parts facilities together invested about $3.6 billion and added over 1,600 jobs during 2015, and the auto show was an opportunity to build on this momentum. Highlights included:

• Meetings with executives of all five auto assemblers building vehicles in the province
• A meeting of the Canadian Automotive Partnership Council (CAPC) to discuss next steps in industry/government collaboration and to receive an update from Ray Tanguay on his work as Automotive Advisor to the Ontario and Canadian Governments
• Interviews with business and auto media to raise awareness among industry decision-makers of Ontario's competitive advantages.

QUOTES

"Ontario is currently a global leader in the automotive and information technologies of today, but we need to ensure we remain at the forefront as these industries evolve for tomorrow. This province's skilled workforce, leadership and commitment in this area present a compelling business case for building the vehicles of the future right here. While in Detroit I met with industry leaders who expressed optimism about Ontario's capabilities. This is a promising indication, as we continue to work closely with industry and government partners for long-term, sustainable growth."

— Brad Duguid, Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure

"Canada's automotive sector has built an impressive reputation around the world for quality and innovation and I saw the many strengths of the sector first-hand on display in Detroit. Canada is a great country in which to invest and do business, and through our innovation agenda, we will work to ensure a profitable, sustainable future for Canadian auto makers."

— Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, Government of Canada

QUICK FACTS

• Ontario is one of the top jurisdictions in North America for vehicle production and the only sub-national jurisdiction to have five major global automotive assemblers: Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda and Toyota, as well as truck manufacturer Hino.
• Ontario assembly plants produced nearly 16 per cent of North American vehicles over the last five years.
• Ontario's auto industry contributes around $16 billion annually to the province's GDP.
• At the North American International Auto Show, the Honda Civic won the North American Car of the Year Award. Honda's plant in Alliston, Ontario, is the global lead plant for the next generation of Honda Civic.
• Strengthening the auto sector is part of Ontario's Business Growth Initiative, which is helping to grow the economy and create jobs by promoting an innovation-based economy, helping small companies scale-up and modernizing regulations for businesses.
• Ontario is the first Canadian province to allow on-road testing of automated vehicles and is home to almost 100 companies and institutions involved in connected vehicle and automated vehicle technologies.

LEARN MORE

Ontario's competitive advantages for automotive.

SOURCE Ontario's Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure