|

Ontario Showcases Auto Sector During Mission to Germany and Switzerland

Growing auto supply chain and innovation take centre stage at IAA Mobility

September 12, 2023

Ontario Showcases Auto Sector During Mission to Germany and Switzerland

The Ontario government has concluded a successful business mission to Germany and Switzerland to attract investments and strengthen relationships with economic partners in the auto sector. As part of the mission, a delegation of Ontario organizations promoted the province’s auto supply chain and innovations at IAA Mobility, the world’s largest event for the mobility industry, which includes the auto and transportation sectors.

“We’re showcasing Ontario’s growing auto supply chain on a global stage and continuing to promote the province to companies around the world,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “Missions like this have helped Ontario attract over $25 billion in transformative auto and EV battery investments from global automakers, parts suppliers, and electric vehicle battery and materials manufacturers over the last three years.”

Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade

A delegation of 10 Ontario organizations, including Invest Ontario and the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN), showcased Ontario products and innovations at IAA Mobility in Germany. The delegation promoted Ontario to international investors and potential partners and customers to grow the province’s auto supply chain.

“Ontario is where innovation meets automotive manufacturing excellence; we are forging global partnerships, attracting transformative investments and showcasing our innovative companies to the world,” said Raed Kadri, Head of OVIN. “Our commitment to fostering a competitive business environment, sustainability and innovation in the auto sector continues to make Ontario a powerhouse destination for businesses worldwide.”

Raed Kadri, Head of OVIN

The Ontario government also met with leading auto, tech and life sciences companies, including the BMW Group, Mercedes-Benz, ElringKlinger, Max Aicher Group, Intellegam, ZF Group, Schaeffler, Siemens, AstraZeneca and Emerald Technology Ventures. These meetings were opportunities to learn more about the companies’ operations in Ontario and their plans for growth. One of the companies, Infineon Technologies, a leading global supplier of semiconductors for vehicles, recently announced their planned acquisition of GaN Systems in Ottawa.

“Both Germany, with its automotive prowess, and Ontario, as an emerging front-runner in electric vehicles, stand tall on the global stage,” said Trevor Dauphinee, CEO of Invest Ontario. “With suppliers and customers across the supply chain, Ontario provides a key entry point to the broader North American market. This collaboration opens doors to promising new opportunities for business growth.”

Trevor Dauphinee, CEO of Invest Ontario

With a world-class workforce, state-of-the-art research and development facilities and a reputation for high-quality manufacturing, Ontario is one of the most competitive places for businesses to invest and grow.

Quick Facts

  • Last year, there was over $14.8 billion in two-way trade between Germany and Ontario, and nearly $7.3 billion between Switzerland and Ontario. There are approximately 260 German businesses and 97 Swiss businesses operating in Ontario.
  • Ontario operates a network of 16 trade and investment offices globally, including one in Munich.
  • Over the last three years, Ontario has attracted over $25 billion in automotive investments by global automakers and suppliers of electric vehicle batteries and battery materials. This includes a $7 billion investment by Volkswagen Group to build the company’s first overseas battery cell manufacturing plant in St. Thomas.
  • Ontario’s auto supply chain is comprised of over 700 parts firms, over 500 tool, die and mold makers and over 400 companies focused on connected and autonomous vehicles. Ontario’s auto manufacturing sector provides nearly 100,000 direct jobs and hundreds of thousands of indirect jobs across the province.

Additional Resources

Source

Related Story

Canada and Ontario Welcome Historic Investment from Volkswagen

Volkswagen, one of Europe’s largest automaker, announced that its subsidiary PowerCo will establish an electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing facility in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada.

Following this announcement, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, and the Honourable Vic Fedeli, Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, issued the following joint statement:

Related Articles


Latest Articles

  • Promise Robotics Transforms Automation in Homebuilding with Next-Gen Control Platform

    April 16, 2025 The AI-powered robotic system enables homebuilders to build more homes faster with less resources using flexible automation and distributed drive technology from Beckhoff Imagine a world where affordable, sustainable housing isn’t a dream, but a reality. This vision faces two significant hurdles: skyrocketing construction costs and a shortage of skilled labour. These… Read More…

  • How Omron Light Curtains Improve Machine Safety Compliance in Canada

    April 16, 2025 In Canadian industrial environments, safeguarding workers and ensuring machine safety compliance is both a regulatory requirement and a productivity necessity. At Proax, as an authorized distributor of Omron, they offer safety solutions engineered to meet and exceed modern compliance standards — including the CSA Z432 and Z434 requirements unique to Canada. Among these solutions, Omron’s Safety… Read More…


Featured Article

Revolutionizing Material Movement with Autonomous Mobile Robots

Revolutionizing Material Movement with Autonomous Mobile Robots

In today’s fast-paced manufacturing and logistics industries, the need for efficient and flexible material movement solutions has never been greater. Traditional methods like conveyor systems, forklifts, and manual pushcarts have served us well, but they come with limitations.

That’s why Omron is thrilled to announce the launch of their game-changing MD Series of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs). Read more


Products

  • New From SEW-EURODRIVE: WES Series Stainless Steel Drives

    April 22, 2025 New From SEW-EURODRIVE: WES Series Stainless Steel Drives SEW-EURODRIVE is proud to introduce the WES Series stainless steel gear unit, a compact, hygienic drive solution that runs cool – even under continuous operation. Unlike worm gear units that overheat, the WES Series integrates SPIROPLAN® right-angle gearing, ensuring smooth, reliable performance without excessive… Read More…

  • Kollmorgen Introduces New High-Voltage IC Ironcore DDL Direct Drive Linear Motor

    April 22, 2025 Kollmorgen Corporation, a global leader in motion control and automation systems, has introduced an addition to its IC Ironcore DDL motor family, expanding beyond 230 VAC products with a new capability to support 400/480 VAC-powered applications. Kollmorgen’s new direct drive linear motor delivers a continuous force range up to 8,211 N and peak… Read More…