The automotive industry is Canada's largest manufacturing sector, accounting for 12 percent of manufacturing GDP and 26 percent of manufacturing trade. It employs 168,732 people in automotive assembly and component manufacturing, and another 335,085 in distribution and aftermarket sales and service. Manufacturing is clustered in central Canada, in the heart of the North American auto industry, while distribution is spread across the country.
Vehicle assembly
The automotive assembly sector in Canada employs 51,012 people and manufactures 2.7 million passenger and commercial vehicles.
The light-duty vehicle sector:
• has 12 high-volume assembly plants producing cars, minivans and light trucks
• produces 2.6 million vehicles
• has shipments of $60.7 billion
• exports about 89 percent of production value
The heavy-duty vehicle sector:
• has 34 relatively low-volume assembly plants producing heavy-duty chassis and vehicles
• produces 65,012 vehicles
• has shipments of $6.1 billion
• exports about 82 percent of production value
