The concept of buying local has made a comeback. Buying products made in Canada creates jobs and puts money back into the pockets of Canadians. In fact, the automotive industry employs nearly 500,000 Canadian workers, contributes $16 billion annually to Canada’s gross domestic product, and is one of the country’s largest export industries, according to statistics from the federal government.
It's no surprise, then, that a significant shift is coming to Canada’s auto industry over the next few years. Investments from the federal and Ontario provincial governments will see numerous car brands shutter plants in Southern Ontario and retool them to produce electric vehicles by the end of the decade. This means many of the new car nameplates we’re used to seeing on lists of vehicles produced in Canada are likely to disappear from them in the near future.
For now, though, here’s a list of all the new vehicles that are still built in Canada in 2024, including the long-time mainstays as well as a few that may surprise you.
Cars Made in Canada
- Chevrolet Silverado
- Chrysler Pacifica, Chrysler Grand Caravan
- Ford Edge, Lincoln Nautilus
- Honda Civic, Honda CR-V
- Lexus RX
- Toyota RAV4, Lexus NX
- Campagna T-Rex
- Vehicles No Longer Being Built in Canada
- Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Dodge Challenger
- Ford GT
- Other Vehicle Types Built in Canada
Passenger Vehicles
Chevrolet Silverado
The General Motors Oshawa Assembly Plant, which opened in 1907, has had a dramatic history in recent years: the company announced plans to shut the facility entirely in 2018, then it pulled an about-face and quickly retooled it to build the Chevrolet Silverado and Silverado Heavy Duty pick-up trucks. The first of this latest round of Oshawa, Ontario-built vehicles rolled off the line late in 2021.
Research the Chevrolet Silverado
Chrysler Pacifica, Chrysler Grand Caravan
The Windsor Assembly Plant was built in 1928 and has been the home of the minivan since 1983. The full line of Stellantis minivans continues to be built in Windsor, Ont. – including the Chrysler Pacifica, its plug-in hybrid model variant, and the Chrysler Grand Caravan defeatured version, which is sold as the Chrysler Voyager in the United States. Earlier this year, the automaker announced that its STLA Large platform of electric vehicles will be built at Windsor. Minivan production will continue alongside those new EVs once retooling is complete.
Ford Edge, Lincoln Nautilus
The Ford Edge and its luxury counterpart, the Lincoln Nautilus (formerly sold as the MKX), are produced at Ford’s Oakville Assembly. The facility has been operating since 1953, but the last gasoline-powered vehicles to roll off its line are slated for early in 2024. Production of both SUVs will be moved to China as the Oakville facility is shut down and retooled for electric car production.
Honda Civic, Honda CR-V
The Honda Civic sedan and coupe together were Canada’s best-selling car for 24 years in a row up until last year. It has been built in Alliston, Ont. since 1988 at Honda of Canada Mfg., the production subsidiary of Honda Canada. The CR-V compact SUV joined it on the second line in 2012, while the CR-V Hybrid joins it for production of the sixth generation model for the 2023 model year as the latter has become available in Canada for the first time. The plant, which opened in 1986, is slated for expansion to accommodate additional hybrid and EV production, a project expected to take six years.
Research the Honda Civic
Lexus RX
This luxury mid-size crossover is produced at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada’s Cambridge South plant, where both the Lexus RX 350 and 450h versions roll off the line for distribution throughout North America. TMMC South opened in 1988 and became the first non-Japanese facility to build Lexus vehicles when RX production began in 2000.
Research the Lexus RX
Toyota RAV4, Lexus NX
It seems Toyota can’t build enough of its popular RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid SUVs, and the TMMC West production facility in Woodstock, Ont., has been assembling them since it opened in 2008 – and the RAV4 Hybrid since 2019. TMMC Cambridge North, which opened in 1997, was retooled to build the RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid that same year, and Lexus NX production was also added to the North line in Cambridge, Ont., when the second generation began production for the 2022 model year.
Research the Toyota RAV4
Campagna T-Rex
This small manufacturer, based in Boucherville, Que., was founded in 1988 and produces the T-Rex, an open-top three-wheeled two-seat sports car.
Vehicles No Longer Being Built in Canada
Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Dodge Challenger
The Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger sedans and Dodge Challenger two-door coupe were all built at the Stellantis Brampton Assembly Plant until production wound down at the end of 2023. The factory was originally constructed by American Motors Corporation (AMC) and later acquired by Chrysler, when it purchased that car company in 1987. Brampton Assembly will reopen in 2025 ready to produce the next-generation Jeep Compass, likely with multiple powertrain options.
Ford GT
The Ford GT supercar is often overlooked when people think of Canadian cars, but it was proudly produced by Multimatic at their facility in Markham, Ont., until production wound down in 2023.
Other Vehicle Types Built in Canada
BrightDrop Zevo 600
The General Motors CAMI Assembly facility in Ingersoll, Ont., is now producing these fully electric delivery vans. Assembly of the Chevrolet Equinox, which was formerly built at this plant, has now been relocated to two GM facilities in Mexico.
Terradyne Armoured Vehicles
Who knew that there’s an armoured vehicle manufacturer operating in Southern Ontario? Terradyne Armoured Vehicles is based in Newmarket, Ont., and produces three different platforms to serve military, law enforcement, and even civilian customers.
Buses
Three different brands of electric bus are produced in Canada: GreenPower, based in Vancouver, B.C.; Lion Electric, based in Saint-Jerome, Que., which also builds commercial trucks; and Winnipeg, Man.’s New Flyer, which is transitioning to electric buses while continuing to build traditional models. The gas-powered Girardin Minibus is built in Drummondville, Que., NovaBus is based in Saint-Eustache, Que., Prevost builds coach buses in Sainte-Claire, Que., and Vicinity Motor Corp. produces transit buses in Aldergrove, B.C.
Related Topics:
- Top 10 Most Reliable Cars in Canada
- Best Seven-Seat SUVs in Canada
- The 10 Best Fuel-efficient Cars in Canada
