Minister Navdeep Bains meets with automotive innovation leaders at the 2016 North American International Auto Show

/EINPresswire.com/ -- DETROIT, MICHIGAN -- (Marketwired) -- 01/12/16 -- Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

At the 2016 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, Michigan, the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, took the opportunity to see and learn about emerging technologies that promise to shape the future of North America's automotive sector. The Minister met with senior executives and toured the show floor, seeing first-hand the impact Canadian automotive innovations are having on the industry.

During his trip, Minister Bains met with the Honourable Brad Duguid, Ontario's Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure, and Mr. Jacques Daoust, Quebec's Minister of the Economy, Innovation and Exports. He will also meet with Canadian auto industry leaders at a meeting of the Canadian Automotive Partnership Council.

During his visit, Minister Bains emphasized that Canadian companies are shaping the future of the automotive landscape. Through the development of new, innovative technologies, they continue to demonstrate that Canada is a natural home for designing and building the cars of the future.

The NAIAS is North America's largest showcase of the latest automotive technology and new vehicles, and it features countless interactive displays. Over 35,000 automotive professionals and analysts representing over 2,000 companies from around the world were in attendance.

Quick facts

- Canada's automotive industry is a key driver of the economy, representing 10 percent of manufacturing GDP and 13 percent of total merchandise exports, and it employs 121,500 Canadians directly and another 390,700 indirectly.

- Canada produces about 14 percent of vehicles assembled in North America. A vehicle rolls off a Canadian assembly line roughly every 13 seconds.

- Canada is home to over 700 suppliers of traditional automotive components and to hundreds more suppliers from other industries, such as information and communications technologies.

- The Automotive Innovation Fund supports strategic and innovative investments in Canada's automotive sector, building Canada's research and development capacity and increasing our ability to compete internationally.

- The Automotive Supplier Innovation Program strengthens Canada's automotive supply base and creates a favourable environment for automotive research and development, while providing firms with new opportunities to enter global supply chains.

Quotes

"It's great to see first-hand the innovative and clean technologies that are being developed by the Canadian automotive sector. It is also great to see the diversity of Canadian suppliers' technologies that are being used in vehicles built in North America. These advancements are going to shape the future of the industry, while helping to build Canada's Innovation Agenda and ensuring a sustainable and profitable future for Canadian automotive makers."

- The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development

"Minister Bains and I held very productive meetings with industry executives during the auto show, and it was apparent that the Ontario/Canadian automotive sector is held in the highest regard for its innovation and quality. Ontario looks forward to working closely with the federal government to build on these strengths and attract new investments and product mandates in an increasingly competitive global marketplace."

- The Honourable Brad Duguid, Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure

"While in Detroit, I took the opportunity to highlight Quebec's expertise in electric vehicles, particularly that of our innovative and competitive suppliers of auto components. This international exhibition is a great venue for promoting their know-how. In addition, I met Minister Bains in person for the first time, which enabled me to advance various economic files of common interest to our two governments."

- Jacques Daoust, Quebec Minister of the Economy, Innovation and Exports

Follow Minister Bains on Twitter: @MinisterISED

Contacts:
Media Relations
Innovation, Science and
Economic Development Canada
343-291-1777
ic.mediarelations-mediasrelations.ic@canada.ca