Setting the Pace: Toronto-Waterloo Leads in Automotive & Mobility

It’s the perfect trifecta of tech, manufacturing and automotive excellence.

In this article, we’ll show you how the Toronto-Waterloo Corridor is the ideal place to land for an automotive and mobility company on the rise – like yours.

A strong foundation in automotive & mobility

The Toronto-Waterloo Corridor’s automotive industry is grounded in over 150 years of manufacturing expertise.

The region is home to more than 200 automotive companies, including global leaders like Toyota, General Motors, Dana Corporation and Magna International.

With over 58,000 people working in automotive manufacturing, 315,000+ tech professionals and more than half a million students from 16 post-secondary institutions, the Corridor has a wealth of talent ready and waiting.

So, is this really the place to be?

Ontario is home to all six Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) operating in Canada, and it’s the only jurisdiction in North America with this distinction. Each of these industry leaders has established operations along Ontario’s Automotive Corridor, which stretches from Windsor to Ottawa – and yes, it runs right through the Toronto-Waterloo Corridor.

You want it, the Corridor’s got it. But let’s dive a little deeper.

Leading the charge in electric vehicles

One of the Corridor’s most exciting developments is its leadership in electric vehicle (EV) technology—a feat made possible in part by this region’s forward-thinking institutions and funding partners. Here are just a few highlights:

• The University of Waterloo recently launched the Ontario Battery and Electrochemistry Research Centre (OBEC), Canada’s hub for research in electrochemical energy storage and conversion materials.
• Conestoga College and industry leader Magna partnered to create a customized training program to accelerate the skills of its global workforce.
• The University of Toronto’s Electric Vehicle (UTEV) Research Centre is driving advanced EV research and innovation through groundbreaking university-industry partnerships.
• Dana Corporation and KA Imaging recently received funding from NGen Canada for their work on EV power electronics heat exchangers as part of the EV Value Chain Program.
• Toronto’s MaRS Discovery District, the world’s largest urban innovation hub, supports startups focused on EVs and green automotive technologies.

Collaboration is the name of the game here, with companies and industry partners working together to advance battery technology, autonomous driving, sustainable transportation solutions, workforce skills development and more.

Keeping the edge with research and development

Looking to invest in R&D? Research and development are just as crucial to the automotive industry’s success in the Toronto-Waterloo Corridor.

The area is home to many state-of-the-art facilities like the University of Waterloo’s Autonomous Vehicle Research and Intelligence Lab (AVRIL), a 10-bay R&D workspace focused on automated driving, vehicle connectivity and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).

York University’s Smart Mobility Applied Research and Testing-Toronto (SmartTO) hub is another standout, serving as one of seven regional technology development sites within the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN). Waterloo is also one of the seven sites.

Institutions like the Automotive Centre of Excellence (ACE) at Ontario Tech University add to this environment by offering comprehensive testing services for automotive manufacturers, including climatic, structural and durability testing.

Together, these facilities (and many others) help keep the Corridor at the peak of automotive technology, and they’re ready to work with you.

A thriving ecosystem of suppliers and startups

Need access to suppliers? The Corridor’s automotive ecosystem wouldn’t be complete without them!

Along the way, you’ll find specialized suppliers like ATS Automation, PWO, Dana Corporation, Turntide Technologies and Linamar Corporation, many with offices in both Toronto and Waterloo, and all critical to the supply chain, providing key components and efficient services to major automotive manufacturers.

Let’s get into the Corridor’s startup scene – more than 5,200 of them equally driven and equally hungry to innovate, collaborate and invent the future. Our incredible startups are developing groundbreaking technologies in areas like vehicle connectivity, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing and so much more.

Companies like Miovision, Acerta, Dejero, Geotab, SWTCH and Waabi are leveraging our top-tier talent, supportive incubators, commercialization hubs and ample funding opportunities to push the bar even higher. Another day, another game-changing innovation.

Available government incentives

Let’s talk about your bottom line. Our federal, provincial and municipal governments are ready to work with you and support your success.

With access to a long list of available incentives related to talent, innovation, sustainability and more, your company will be well positioned for long-term growth in the area.

Here are just a few of the available incentives:

• Ontario Automotive Modernization Program (O-AMP)
• Strategic Innovation Fund
• Regional Development Program: Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness Stream
• Canada NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program

On the road ahead

The Toronto-Waterloo Corridor’s automotive scene isn’t just keeping up; it’s setting the pace. From pushing boundaries in electric vehicles to driving breakthrough research and supporting a strong network of startups and suppliers, the Corridor is truly leading the way.

As we wrap up our look at this incredible region, one thing is clear: The Toronto-Waterloo Corridor walks the talk like a true leader. Whether it’s tech, manufacturing or automotive, this area continues to drive progress, stay competitive and steer the future in a lane that’s uniquely its own.