About

The APRC conducts research and disseminates knowledge about the role of public policy in supporting Canada’s globally competitive automotive industry.

What is the APRC?

The APRC conducts research and disseminates knowledge about the role of public policy in supporting Canada’s globally competitive automotive industry.

The APRC was formed in 2012 as a collaborative research partnership funded by a grant from Automotive Partnership Canada (APC). Between 2012 and 2018, the APRC engaged university-based researchers, policy-makers, and industry stakeholders from Canada and abroad in a variety of research collaborations, resulting in dozens of publications, presentations, and events.

In 2018, the APRC became an NGO that maintains partnerships with university-based researchers, policy-makers, and industry stakeholders, one that continues to pursue multi-disciplinary research related to the role of public policy in supporting the automotive industry in Canada.

Why does public policy research matter to Canada’s automotive industry?

The automotive industry is of vital importance to Canada’s economic well-being. It contributes over 10% of Canadian manufacturing GDP, directly employs over 130,000 people, and creates significant demand for other manufactured goods including steel, plastics, rubber, aluminum, electronics, software, tooling, and production machinery. The automotive industry is particularly important in Ontario, which is one of the world’s leading sub-national automotive-producing jurisdictions.

The research and analysis conducted by the APRC helps educate and inform policy-makers, industry stakeholders, and the general public about important issues facing Canada’s automotive industry, the economic impact of the automotive industry on Canada’s economy, and the role of public policy in supporting the automotive industry. Today, the APRC continues to conduct important research, including projects that focus on the impact of trade agreements competitiveness, the industry’s profile and structure, the industry’s future labour market needs, the role of public policy in supporting automotive R&D, and the transferability to Canada of public policy tools used by governments throughout the world.

People

Industry Partners

University and Research Partners

Government Partners

Community Partners