News
For Immediate Release
Windsor
01/18/2011
Auto Sector Turning The Corner: McGuinty Government Support Essential To Industry’s Turnaround
NEWS
Ontario’s auto industry continued to pick up speed with the production launch of the 2011 Chrysler Town & Country and the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan in Windsor.
This is the latest investment by Chrysler in its Ontario operations and workforce, and follows the recent launch of three new vehicles at Chrysler’s Brampton plant. Chrysler also announced an investment of $27.2 million last August which kept 280 Ontarians working in good jobs in Etobicoke. The Windsor Assembly Plant currently employs more than 4,400 people on three shifts, and produced more than 312,000 vehicles in 2010.
Employment in Ontario’s auto industry has increased by more than 8,200 jobs since the sector’s restructuring in June 2009. And according to Canadian Vehicle Manufacturer’s Association, Canadian vehicle manufacturers produced 600,000 more vehicles as demand rose 6.6 per cent in Canada and 11 per cent in the United States in 2010 compared to 2009. Chrysler, Ford and GM produced 1.3 million vehicles, an increase of 425,000 from 2009.
Strengthening the province’s auto sector, which employs more than 89,000 Ontarians, is part of the province’s five-year Open Ontario plan to create new jobs and promote economic growth.
QUOTES
“Congratulations to Chrysler and the employees at the Windsor Assembly Plant on the production launch of the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan and the 2011 Chrysler Town & Country. In 2009, our government showed its confidence in Chrysler and today Chrysler continues to demonstrate its confidence in Ontario and in our workforce.”
— Sandra Pupatello, Minister of Economic Development and Trade
“Families and communities across Ontario depend on the auto sector for jobs. Employment for workers here in Windsor is now more secure – just as it is for the thousands of people who contribute as suppliers. Ontario continues to be the top location for the auto and manufacturing sector in North America.”
— Dwight Duncan, Minister of Finance
QUICK FACTS
- Since December 2009, four of Ontario’s five vehicle manufacturers have announced production, employment or investment increases at their Ontario plants.
- In 2010, Ontario produced over 2 million vehicles, an increase of more than 40 per cent over 2009.
- In total, Ontario’s auto industry supports about 400,000 direct and indirect jobs across the province.
- Ontario has recovered 96 per cent of all jobs lost during the global economic recession, compared to 13 per cent in the United States, 5 per cent in Japan and 47 per cent in the UK.
LEARN MORE
- Read about Open Ontario, the government's five-year plan for the economy.
For more information:
Leigh Ann Popek
Minister's Office
416-325-0362
Mark Ingram
Communications Branch
416-325-4776
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