The Regional Municipality of York Leads Joint Business Delegation to the AutoTech Detroit Conference; Delegation will Showcase Sector Strengths and Explore Cross-Border Partnerships

Delegation to be held in collaboration with local municipalities, business and innovation community, the Province of Ontario and the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association (APMA)

Businesswire.com
June 6, 2023

The Regional Municipality of York (York Region), home to Canada’s largest independent automotive parts and electronics manufacturing cluster, is spearheading a delegation of industry leaders, local municipalities, academic and innovation partners to the AutoTech Detroit Conference on Wednesday, June 7 and Thursday, June 8. The delegation is in collaboration with a larger Canadian contingent at the conference, including the Province of Ontario and Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association (APMA).

“As a leading research-intensive university in Canada, we are poised to contribute significantly to the advancement of innovation and entrepreneurship within the automotive sector. York University looks forward to engaging with fellow participants and exploring potential partnerships that leverage the expertise and resources of the university.”

With more than 250 automotive products and technology companies based across York Region, the delegation will highlight the advantages for U.S. and global autotech manufacturing and R&D companies to expand in Greater Toronto Area’s York Region, as well as promote cross-border sector partnerships with Canadian companies and innovation organizations.

Ontario’s auto sector is experiencing significant growth and York Region is a critical hub at the centre of the ecosystem. In addition to being home to Canada’s largest independent auto parts and electronics manufacturing cluster, the Region is also a prominent Information & Communications Technology (ICT) business and R&D hub in North America.

York Region’s Presence at AutoTech Detroit

York Region-based companies participating in the delegation include AutoMetrics, Carity, CIeNET Technologies, Ensil, Martinrea International, Megalab Group, Microart Services, and Syntronic. The companies range in expertise from infotainment software and automotive application design to tier-one auto parts, electronics manufacturing services and industrial automation.

Economic development representatives from York Region and local municipalities, including the City of Markham, City of Vaughan and the Town of East Gwillimbury, will also be in attendance. Rounding out the delegation will be local academic and innovation partners, including York University, ventureLAB and the Trillium Network for Advanced Manufacturing.

“York Region is driving the future of autotech nationally and globally,” said Jonathan Wheatle, Director, Economic Strategy, York Region. “The companies across our nine cities and towns bring unparalleled innovation in parts manufacturing, as well as hardware and software engineering – all vital elements to the electric, connected and autonomous vehicle of the future. We look forward to bringing our delegation to AutoTech Detroit to facilitate new partnerships and collaboratively promote our Region’s autotech sector.”

York Region is part of the wider Canadian presence at the conference, which includes the Government of Ontario and APMA, among others. APMA plans to showcase the first all-Canadian built zero-emissions concept vehicle, Project Arrow on the conference floor. Project Arrow was collaboratively developed with a number of Canadian suppliers – including four from York Region. AutoTech Detroit Conference participants are welcome to visit the booths of York Region and its partners onsite, and meet with the business, innovation and government delegates.

QUICK FACTS

• Located just north of Toronto, York Region consists of nine cities and towns and is home to more than 1.2 million residents
• York Region is home to Canada’s largest independent auto parts and electronics manufacturing cluster (source: Trillium Network for Advanced Manufacturing, Western University)
• York Region is home to the global headquarters of three of the five largest Canadian auto parts companies: Magna International, Martinrea International and Multimatic
• York Region is home to Canada’s largest automotive corporate innovation hub: the General Motors Canadian Technical Centre (CTC)
• York Region is home to the Canadian head offices of BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda and Volvo
• York Region’s autotech sector is underpinned by more than 4,600 ICT companies – Canada’s second largest tech hub
• To learn more about York Region’s delegation to AutoTech Detroit, visit yorklink.ca/autotechdetroit.

 

PARTNER QUOTES

“APMA is excited to collaborate with our partners from York Region and the Province of Ontario at AutoTech Detroit. We're thrilled to be showcasing Project Arrow at the conference, highlighting the best of Canadian-made automotive innovation and cutting-edge research that will drive our industry forward. Together, we're demonstrating Canada's leadership in automotive innovation and building a brighter, more sustainable future for our industry.”

- Flavio Volpe
President, Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association (APMA)

“Microart Services is a Canadian leader in electronic manufacturing services, and we look forward to engaging with conference participants, fostering partnerships and collaborating toward the development of innovative electronic products for the automotive industry.”

- Charles Tonna
Executive Vice President, Microart Services

“York Region is home to one of the largest and most comprehensive AutoTech ecosystems in North America, with more than 250 establishments including niche vehicle assemblers, parts and components manufacturers, electronics design and manufacturing companies, software developers, and production technology manufacturers. The AutoTech ecosystem in York Region is uniquely positioned to continue as a major contributor to advancing new automotive and mobility technologies for years to come.”

- Brendan Sweeney
Managing Director, Trillium Network of Advanced Manufacturing

“As a leading research-intensive university in Canada, we are poised to contribute significantly to the advancement of innovation and entrepreneurship within the automotive sector. York University looks forward to engaging with fellow participants and exploring potential partnerships that leverage the expertise and resources of the university.”

- David Kwok
Associate Director of Entrepreneurship, York University